NOEL Meade had a memorable night at Roscommon on Monday when saddling a 450/1 treble on the card at the Connacht venue.

He made a fast start when bagging the first two races, with Zero Fighter lunging late to take the opening claiming maiden under Adam Caffrey.

The 10/3 shot got a strong drive from the 7lb claimer to lead at the line and deny front-runner One For Mum by a head.

“I thought he was beat but he was coming home and horses on the outside always have the advantage here,” said Meade of the three-year-old by Muhaarar.

“He belongs to a bunch of trainers, Gordon [Elliott], Denis Murphy, Colin Bowe, Noel Meade, Joey Logan and Peter Nolan. We have five and that’s the first one that’s won, they were supposed to be gone as two-year-olds!”

Half an hour later, Port Louis ran out a convincing winner of the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden under champion jockey Colin Keane.

Having led early, the James Garfield colt soon tracked the leaders and was produced early in the straight. He kicked on over a furlong from home to post a two-and-a-half-length success.

“I thought he’d win so that was great,” said Meade.

“Colin likes him and said he’ll go another furlong. He’s always shown us plenty. I suppose we’ll have to think about the sales race, the seven-furlong race in Naas at the end of the season.

“I think there is a winner’s race here and he might come back for that. Unfortunately Jimmy Kernohan, who is from Randalstown, is not here as his wife wasn’t that well. He’s one of our long-time owners and has been with me an awful long time.”

Pearl shines

The treble was completed in the Shanagher Hearing Maiden when Pearl Of Australia produced a game front-running performance under Leigh Roche.

The son of Australia found plenty for pressure in the closing stages as the 12/1 shot held off the challenge of Astar by half a length.

“Dylan [Browne McMonagle] rode him in Gowran last time and he said he made a mistake, that he should have let him roll along,” said Meade.

“That was over a mile and I just started to think that maybe we had got it all wrong with him. It was a super well judged ride by Leigh.

“Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards now. He’s by Australia but he’s related to a good miler and that’s what sort of caught me out a bit with him. I’d say he’d even go a mile-and-a-half.”

THE in-form Whisky On The Hill recorded a hat-trick when claiming the Abbey Hotel Handicap.

Ado McGuinness’ charge had won his last two at Sligo and went to post 2/1 favourite under Adam Caffrey, who was riding a double on the card.

The Ribchester gelding was driven into the lead over a furlong from home and always looked in control as he posted a length success over Grey Fable.

“Adam gave him a great ride. He did it very easy actually and probably got there too soon,” said McGuinness.

“He’s a nice horse and jumping will probably be the name of the game for him in time.

“He’s going to go to the field in the morning, probably for ten days, and then we’ll bring him back for the mile-and-a-half in Galway for three-year-olds.”

Hackett and Sheridan success

In the other mile-and-a-half handicap Sequoiaspirit was another in-form horse to strike again.

The Ray Hackett-trained gelding had won on his seasonal debut at Gowran and followed up in fine style.

Joey Sheridan’s mount came with a strong run to lead just inside the final furlong and record a cosy three-and-a-quarter length success at odds of 5/1.

“He’s in good form, he just barely got away with the ground and wouldn’t want it a lot quicker,” said Hackett.

“He was going as hard as he was able early on, they made it a good test and then started to die in front of him and he was able to get there. He’ll probably go jumping hurdles now if the ground gets any quicker.”

SWISS Army Officer made a winning return from retirement when claiming the first division of the Dick Mulvaney Apprentice Handicap.

Conor Stone-Walsh produced the 9/1 shot to lead between horses inside the final furlong and secure a half-length win over Barnhill Rose.

“I’m delighted. We retired him at the end of last year and I got him back for the two South African guys [in our yard] to ride but today was an apprentice race. I wanted to run him at Killarney, because he likes it, but he got in today,” said Coleman.

“Conor was unbelievable on him. We’re down to a good mark, he’s had loads of problems and if we can get him back after today well and good but it’s every day with this lad.”

Peak on top

In the second division of the seven-furlong contest Blue Peak came good on her sixth outing for Michael Grassick.

Danny Sheehy led just inside the final furlong on the Fascinating Rock filly and the 16/1 shot soon asserted to win by two-and-a-half lengths.

“She’s just been slow to come and I think the penny is just dropping with her,” said Grassick.

“Hopefully there is another race or two in her. That’s my first winner for William Keeling, who is Joe’s son.”

It was a night of some cracking finishes and Halla Ban proved very game when claiming the ten furlong handicap.

Jim Bolger’s charge, a 7/1 shot, had to navigate some traffic under Rory Cleary before getting a gap inside the final furlong for a neck success over Pralognan.

Travelling head man Ger Flynn said afterwards: “She deserves that, she has a heart as big as herself. Rory said the gaps were closing the whole way up the straight. The minute he got one and got out he said she was brave.”