THE Pat Doyle-handled Lifetime Ambition (1/2 - 1/1 favourite) concluded his preparations for the Aintree Foxhunters, with an authoritative victory in the featured open lightweight at last Sunday’s well-attended North Galway Foxhounds fixture held at a sunny Belclare.

Concluding a treble for his rider Rob James and a double for his handler Pat Doyle, the 10-year-old was looking to supplement his success in a similar contest at Bellharbour last month in the six-runner affair.

Patiently-ridden, Roger O’Byrne and Linda Mulcahy’s charge took closer order, as Hathaways Cottage led the field towards the fourth-last. Taking the measure of David Christie’s mare before the penultimate obstacle, Lifetime Ambition soon effortlessly drew clear to oblige by an unextended 10 lengths.

“That was a lovely prep run for Aintree,” reflected Doyle, who was also in double form in Nenagh the previous afternoon. “He would have needed that today, so should be spot on now. We’re looking forward to Aintree, as we feel the track and ground should suit him.”

Went one better

Doyle and James had earlier sampled success in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden, as Kap De Cerisy (4/9 - 1/2 favourite) went one better than her Dromahane debut effort last April.

Leading her five rivals from flag fall, the daughter of Kapgarde overcame jumping left at times when, having been left further clear following the fall of Survivors Sister at the third from home, accounting for Somersby Roost by 11 lengths.

“Rob felt she never really came out of second gear there. She just needed a bit of time after her run last year and is coming to herself all the while,” observed Doyle. Kap De Cerisy, a half-sister to his handler’s former inmate Marvel De Cerisy, who claimed a listed handicap hurdle in Auteuil for Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm last September, was quickly added to the catalogue for last Thursday’s Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale.

Justified favouritism

Last season’s joint-champion rider Rob James also collected the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden as the Donnchadh Doyle-handled Generous Risk (3/1 - 2/1 favourite) similarly justified favouritism on his second career start.

Generous Risk, a towering son of No Risk At All, came from a prominent position to lead after three-out and only had first-timer Minella Saint for company racing to the second-last.

Mastering the challenge of John Nallen’s charge shortly before the final fence, at which point Minella Saint exited, Generous Risk ultimately came home 15 lengths ahead of Diamond Hunter.

“He’s a horse with a big engine. Things didn’t really go to plan first time out, but he’s improved since then. With his size he can only come forward again,” said James of last December’s Boulta-third Generous Risk, who was also due to be sold at the Prestbury Park-venue on Thursday.

Sporting the silks of the successful handler’s wife Sharon, the Maxios-gelding moved to the head of affairs, when the leading pair of Clone Cross and Living On Dreams both departed at the 11th fence and the Adam Ryan-partnered winner later belied his inexperience to cosily see off the challenge of Sense Of Occasion by a length and a half.

“This is a very nice horse, who has done everything right at home. Adam was delighted with him today and, all being well, he’ll probably go to the Goffs UK Aintree Sale,” remarked stable representative Willie Slattery of Smokehouse, who was sourced at last year’s Goffs Arkle Sale for €24,000.

There was some brief respite for the six bookmakers present in the winners of two contest, as Cool Worker (16/1 - 20/1), the sole maiden in the 11-runner field, sprang a major surprise in the hands of Adam Feeney.

Handled and owned by Tom Keating, this past January’s Tyrella-fifth, Cool Worker threw down a sustained challenge to long-time leader Brendaandtheboys in the home straight and, responding well to Feeney’s urgings on the flat, got on top in the shadows of the post to carry the day by half a length. It’s now likely that Nicholastown, Co Tipperary-handler/owner Keating will sell the Workforce-sired five-year-old.

IT was very much a family affair in the concluding older maiden, as the Pat O’Rourke-trained Carrick Hill (8-14/1) showed the benefit of his recent Ballycahane comeback effort to upstage some more fancied rivals.

In a contest that attracted the largest field of the day with 16 runners, Carrick Hill, owned by the winning handler’s wife Phyllis and partnered by their son Jimmy, forged ahead of favourite The Real Beaut on the approach to the final fence and showed a willing attitude late-on to score by two lengths.

“This horse showed us plenty when he was younger, but got held up with little niggles,” commented Jimmy O’Rourke of Carrick Hill. “He came on nicely from his run last weekend and going right-handed was a big help to him too. If he’s not sold, we’ll aim for a winners’ race next.”

Sense Of Occasion (D. O’Connor) This Soldier Of Fortune-youngster took a notable step forward from his fifth-placed debut effort at Oldtown last month, when runner-up to Smokehouse in the four-year-old maiden.

Doing some nice late work under Diarmuid Moloney, he can easily claim a similar maiden before embarking on a successful track career.