LAST season’s Joseph O’Reilly Memorial hunters chase-winner Boss Robin (4/5 - 4/6 favourite) was the star turn at last Sunday’s Scarteen Hunt fixture held at Comea, when claiming the novice riders open lightweight for the second consecutive year.

Handled locally by John Gleeson, the Mahler gelding produced a superb display of jumping from the front under Patrick Gleeson and the pair only had Step Up Son for company turning for the final fence.

With Step Up Son mounting his challenge on the outside before the last and the pair almost jumping in unison, the Aidan Archdeacon-owned Boss Robin showed his jumping prowess once more to re-establish his advantage and carry the day by a length and a half.

“I got held up with him due to snow before his last run in Ballindenisk and he wasn’t ready enough for it,” reflected winning handler Gleeson.

“Patrick gets a mighty tune out of him. We’ll go on to Punchestown now for another open and then we’ll look at the Tetratema Cup in Gowran Park.”

Leading Lass

Scarteen Hunt chairman Bill Hanley had earlier seen his silks carried to victory in the confined maiden, as the Declan McNamara-trained Townhill Lass (1/1 - 5/2) was another to make most of the running en route to victory.

Having shaken off the attentions of Hanley’s other representative Catwalk Girl after two out, the Johnny Barry-ridden Townhill Lass asserted early in the home straight, before withstanding the late rally of Just Keeps Rolling by half a length.

“This mare had some lovely runs last season. I’m delighted for Bill, as he’s been very loyal to me over the years. This mare will continue in winners’ races and maiden hunter chases before possibly going over hurdles in the summer,” outlined McNamara.

THE Mayglass, Co Wexford rider Jack Hendrick is experiencing another stellar season and he edged closer to a century of winners between the flags, when piloting a double, which was kick-started by Taurus Bay (1/1 - 2/1 favourite) in the opening four-year-old maiden.

Providing his sire Poets Word with an initial success in this category from his only runner, the Denis Murphy-trained €26,000 Goffs Arkle Sale-graduate stylishly swept to the front on rounding the home bend and only needed to be kept up to his work late-on by Hendrick to outpoint Marsiac by two and a half lengths.

“This is a fine type of horse, who has always worked well,” commented Murphy, who also claimed the four-year-old maiden in Tallow with Hitintheheadlines.

“I have about 25 four-year-olds for the spring, so we’ve had a great start today. Taurus Bay will now head to the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale next week.”

Hendrick registered a 97th points success in the proceeding five-year-old geldings maiden, as Matthew Flynn O’Connor’s U S Marshall (6/4 - 2/1 favourite) confirmed the favourable impression he created when a close debut-fourth in Tattersalls in December.

Edging his mount closer at an early stage on the final circuit, Hendrick allowed the Jet Away gelding to stride clear after the second-last and the 2023 Derby Sale buy later overcame greenness before the final fence to hold-off the staying-on Poppycon by half a length.

“This is a fine big horse, who had a lovely first run when he was beaten less than four lengths. He’s learning the whole time and will be a nice horse for the track,” said Flynn O’Connor of U S Marshall.

BRIAN Dunleavy’s dash, following two rides in Tallow, to this fixture was rewarded as Midnight Moonshine (3/1 - 4/1) showed the benefit of his December Borris House seasonal-debut fourth to claim the closing six-year and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Handled by the absent Daryl Deacon, the Soldier Of Fortune-sired victor came from third position early to power clear of both Fromquintotulla and Stan Wellback after the second-last and made light of a final fence blunder to dismiss Stan Wellback by a length. “We’ve always thought a bit of this lad, but he’s just been very immature. Brian was very happy with him today and we will aim for a winners’ race or a hunters chase now,” observed the bay’s breeder Michael Roche, who shares the winner with his cousin James Roche.

The Co Westmeath-duo of handler Simon Cavanagh and pilot Kevin Healy combined for their fourth win of the season, as first-timer Bet On Beauty (5/1 - 6/1) upstaged some more fancied opponents in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

In a contest, which saw both Mossy Walsh and Witheros Hill race up-front from the off, Healy produced the Cavanagh-handled and owned Bet On Beauty to lead just before the last and the daughter of Famous Name later saw off the persistent effort of favourite Mossy Walsh by half a length.

“This is a lovely mare, who did it nicely today. Kevin is with me three days a week and rode a lovely patient race on her. The mare will go for a winners’ race now, if she’s not sold,” remarked Cavanagh of Bet On Beauty, who was bred by his father Richard.

Horse to Follow

My Own Lovely Lee (A.J. Doyle): this El Salvador-sired half-brother to Joseph O’Brien’s multiple Grade 1-winning staying-hurdler Home By The Lee debuted in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Up-front throughout and still holding every chance at the penultimate obstacle, he eventually was beaten just over three lengths into third. The chesnut should easily pick up a similar contest in the near future.