DEREK O’Connor stole the show in testing conditions at Rathcannon on Sunday, as he rode a double on the day. He kickstarted the double in the opening four-year-old geldings’ maiden as he steered the Ellemarie Holden-trained Johnnywho (6/4 - 1/1 favourite) to an eight-length success over the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Bare Meadows.

O’Connor and Holden combined last year to send out the subsequent £570,000 Goffs UK November sale-topper Jonbon, and they look to have another exciting recruit on their hands.

Paul Holden, representing the absent winning handler said, of the Catherine Holden-owned winner: “He’s a lovely horse and we were just waiting for the bit of soft ground for him to get him out. We got it today thankfully after they had a lot of rain last night. We schooled him on Wednesday and he jumped really well. Hopefully he’ll go to the Cheltenham November Sale now.”

Thrilling Plenty

O’Connor completed his double in the mares’ maiden on the Sam Curling-trained Plenty Of Time (4/6 - 4/5 favourite), in what proved to be the most thrilling finish of the day.

The four-runner contest saw two newcomers dominate the betting and it was that pair who fought out the finish, with Plenty Of Time denying the Donal Hassett-trained My Silver Lining by three-quarters of a length.

There was a distance back to the only other finisher, Uncertain Times.

“She’s a lovely mare and is very big. She was only just ready to start off there and the ground is probably as soft as she would want it. She’s tough, stayed going and I’d say the first two are good mares. She’ll be sold now,” said the winning owner and handler.

Master in charge

O’Connor came very close to completing a treble in the first four-year-old auction maiden of the season, but his mount, Clonakilty, was denied by the Pa King-ridden and Pat Doyle-trained The Brew Master (6/4 favourite). There was a gap of only nine lengths separating the first four home, with the winner prevailing by four and a half lengths.

This was King’s eighth winner of the season and he now sits joint second in the riders’ standings with Rob James. The Brew Master, carrying the colours of Doyle’s wife Mary, was his third four-year-old runner of the autumn campaign and his third winner.

“He wouldn’t have been mad about the ground but he’s a good horse and got through it. I bought him at the August sale and he’ll go back to the sales now,” commented the winning handler.

Lord Schnitzel proves classy winner

LORD Schnitzel (5/4 - 6/4) is a former 139-rated chaser who got off the mark between the flags three weeks previously in an older maiden at Loughrea and he doubled his tally here in the concluding winner-of-two contest.

The Declan Queally-trained gelding took up the lead at the halfway point and he stretched the field out in the testing conditions to score by a wide margin from the Sam-Curling trained Coastguard Station.

The original second-placed finisher, Three Loud Knocks, was subsequently disqualified after his rider Michael O’Sullivan failed to weigh-in.

The winner, carrying the colours of Klaus Koentopp, provided his pilot, Chris O’Donovan, with his first winner of the campaign.

“He’s a classy horse and just needs a bit of help in front but he stayed galloping and won well. I’d say he’ll be a fun horse in this category for the season,” said the winning rider.

“I’d say he could look at a hunter chase as he’s still eligible for a maiden hunters’ chase.”

On The Sod (4/5 - 4/6 favourite) won a Downpatrick hunters’ chase on his final start last season and he made a winning return between the flags here when scoring in the open lightweight contest.

This was his fifth win from five starts in points, maintaining his 100% record in the sphere.

Oran McGill was never far from the pace on the David Christie-trained son of Ask and once they hit the front after the second last, they galloped all the way to the line.

Fenno’s Storm finished a staying-on second, two lengths behind the winner.

Sod on the ball

On The Sod, carrying the colours of Kieran Mahon and Noel Keenan, will be heading back hunter chasing before too long, according to the winning rider, who said: “He did it well in the end. I just wanted to hold on to him for as long as I could up the hill because it’s very testing out there.

“He loves that ground and he just keeps galloping.

“I imagine he’ll be going hunter chasing again this season.

Maximilian maintains winning momentum

DONNCHADH Doyle recorded his sixth winner of the season in the five-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden when the newcomer, Maximilian (2/1 - 7/2), scored in the hands of Pearse Rogan.

The race attracted the largest field of the day with nine runners and plenty held chances turning for home, but it was the Monbeg Syndicate-owned son of Adlerflug who came out on top by three lengths from the Desmond Kenneally-trained and Darragh Allen-ridden Pray Tell.

The winning handler was absent but his brother Eamonn Doyle, representing connections, said: “We always thought a bit of him.

“He’s owned by a syndicate in the yard, so they’ll have a great night tonight celebrating. I imagine that he’ll be sold now.”

Horse to follow

My Silver Lining (D. Hassett): The daughter of Cloudings looked to have done enough heading to the last but she just got tired on the run-in and was headed by Plenty Of Time.

The front two pulled a distance clear of the third though and she should make amends in the coming weeks.