CHELTENHAM winners were to the fore at this well-attended North Kilkenny Foxhounds fixture, with both Barry Stone and Rob James on the mark.

Fresh from his memorable Kim Muir triumph on Daily Present, Stone guided Hidden Fortune (7/2 – 4/1) to a comfortable five-length win in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden.

A third success for Gary Murphy from just four runners this month, the Turbine Syndicate-owned bay tracked the leaders and made her way to the front three out.

The €18,500 Tattersalls May Store Sale purchase was pressed approaching the next and, despite a slight mistake there, she went a few lengths clear before the last and extended her advantage on the run-in.

“She’s a big, fine, gorgeous, sales filly. Hopefully, she’ll go to the sale at Aintree now,” Murphy disclosed.

“I fancied her big time. There was a trainer over from the UK looking at her a few weeks ago and I said to him ‘wherever she’ll go, she’ll win’. The four-year-olds are flying at the minute, thank God.”

James strikes again

Just two days after his Prestbury Park win on Wonderwall, Rob James struck aboard the Monbeg Syndicate-owned Bass Hunter (1/1 – 7/4 favourite) in the concluding five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden.

Third on debut at Bellharbour last season, before disappointing on his return at Lingstown in November, the Authorized five-year-old was keen in the early stages and improved to lead before the second.

While jumping right at times, the €145,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase stretched clear from two out and, despite a slight mistake at the last, he eased to a seven-length win.

“We thought a bit of him last year and I’m delighted he done that today,” successful handler Donnchadh Doyle commented. “He will probably head for the point-to-point bumper at Cork on Easter Monday. We won it before with Monbeg Park.”

THIRD in the Fred Winter of 2019 and unplaced in the County Hurdle the following two seasons, Ciel Du Neige (3/1 – 4/1) continued the Cheltenham theme by claiming the open for novice riders.

A five-time winner when in the care of Willie Mullins, the 10-year-old filled the runner-up spot on his debut for Ellen Doyle and the Baltimore Stable Syndicate at Aghabullogue in January.

Third in two starts since, the 7,500 guineas purchase took advantage of a mistake from Pat Coyne at the last, going on to see off that rival by a length.

In front from the seventh, the runner-up still held a narrow advantage approaching the final fence, with the Shane Butler-ridden victor very much on his coattails.

“He has bumped into a few good horses, but he has been very consistent and he’ll stay in open company now,” Brian Dunleavy, representing winning connections, reflected.

“We don’t have him that long, he was bought from an online sale and had good form from when Willie Mullins trained him.”

Whiskey was all out

A half-sister to Grand Annual third Midnight It Is, the Milestone Bloodstock-owned Whiskey Serenade (4/1 – 7/2) made the breakthrough on her sixth start in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

With Jollie Cosmos attempting to make all, the Colin Bowe-trained victor took over at the head of affairs before two out.

She didn’t manage to put much daylight between herself and her rivals though, and was all out at the line to hold off the renewed effort of Defeat The Dark by half a length, with the aforementioned Jollie Cosmos another length away in third.

“She has hit the crossbar a few times. I was talking to Barry (O’Neill) coming here and he said he always liked her,” winning rider Bertie Finn revealed.

“She jumps really well and travelled well today in what was a strongly run race. She quickened up nicely, pinged the last two. She idled in front, but when she heard something coming, she took off again.”

JUST three managed to complete the course in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, with Minella Apprentice (5/1 – 4/1), a debutant from John Nallen’s yard, coming out on top.

Racing keenly and making his way to the front from the third, Shoe Shinner soon established a sizeable lead and was all of 20 lengths clear at halfway.

While his advantage was reduced approaching two out, he wasn’t headed until after the last, with the Adam Feeney-ridden victor lunging late to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

“I was always confident I’d catch the lad in front, I was always full of horse,” Feeney remarked.

“I was aiming for one run with him, as he is a fast horse. I’ve always liked him at home and you’d really see his speed on nice ground. He showed a great turn of foot from the third last to the line.”

Another newcomer claimed the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, with the Jack Hendrick-ridden Soomaroy (2/1 – 5/2 joint-favourite) avoiding the drama two fences from the finish.

Penultimate obstacle

In a share of the lead at the time, Oatsoeasy crashed out at that penultimate obstacle and badly hampered Vango Can Go, who had independently made a mistake when sitting a close third.

Owned and trained by Jim O’Neill, the successful No Risk At All chesnut was subsequently left clear and kept on well in the closing stages to score by four lengths.

“He’s a very smart horse and we’ve always thought a lot of him. You’d still be nervous, as it’s so competitive. Even when you think you have a nice one, it’s never guaranteed,” O’Neill divulged.

“Jack has always loved him and I’m so happy for him, because he got off a horse of Cormac’s to ride this lad today. Cormac’s horse [Lancelot Du Large] won down below in Cork, so the pressure was on!”

Horse to Follow

Beep Beep Becky (Harley Dunne): This Feel Like Dancing bay ran a similar race to Dysart Enos, who also filled the runner-up spot in this very contest for the same connections in 2022. While never threatening the winner, she did well to get by Give It a Crack in the closing stages, with that one having the benefit of a previous run.