LAST Saturday saw the first fixture in nearly two-and-a-half years at Loughbrickland, Co Down, held by kind permission of the Kidd family.
The opening four-year-old maiden was a competitive affair, with 11 horses heading to post, setting strong fractions right from the drop of the flag.
The Stuart Crawford-trained Largy Go (4/1 - 3/1) reaped the rewards of a patient ride towards the rear by jockey, Stephen Connor.
Acquired as a €15,000 foal, the Largy Bloodstock-owned son of the up-and-coming sire Poet’s Word made significant progress through the field from four-out.
By the penultimate obstacle, he had joined the long-time leader and quickly surged to the front, battling gamely all the way to the line; he held off Seven Towers to win by two lengths.
Winning jockey Stephen Connor remarked: “He did that brilliantly. His homework has been very, very good, so we were expecting a nice run today. It was a truly run contest with a strong gallop from the start, and he crept into the race.
Quickened smartly
“He’s got the class to get involved and, once he hit the front, he showed a bit of greenness, pricking his ears at the last and getting in under it. But once he felt the other horse coming, he quickened away smartly. I’d imagine he’ll now be sold.”
The five-year-old maiden attracted the largest field of the day with 14 maidens heading to post, and it saw Fortune Lad (3/1 - 6/1) gain a deserved victory at the third time of asking.
This son of Soldier Of Fortune showed promise, when finishing second on debut behind a smart winner, who later fetched £100,000 at the Cheltenham Festival Sale in 2024.
The Caitriona Goff-owned gelding took the lead early and jumped with great fluency throughout. When asked for an effort in the straight, Fortune Lad quickened away assertively, pulling clear to win by six lengths from Beans On Toast.
Convincing
It was a convincing performance from this winner under handler Mick Goff’s son Harry, who stated: “That’s long overdue. He was second as a four-year-old, then we ran him in Dromahane, but he wasn’t himself. We freshened him up, came here, and he won very well today.”
The older geldings’ maiden was run at something of a crawl and the Willie Murphy-trained Johnny K (7/2) emerged on top in the sprint finish.
This six-year-old son of Snow Sky was prominent throughout, helping dictate the sedate tempo. He took the lead from three-out under Pa King and quickly increased the pace, leaving the rest of his rivals caught flat-footed.
Owned by The O’Toole Family Partnership, Johnny K showed a smart turn of foot to defeat the favourite Squire Ohara by six and a half lengths.
IT proved to be a great day for local handler Caroline McCaldin, as not only did she assist in organising the fixture, but she also saddled a double, with Spiddle Hill (5/2-3/1) accounting for one leg of her brace.
This six-year-old had shed his maiden tag on his previous start at Kirkistown and looks to have found his way of late, as he followed up in the winners of two.
The son of Getaway was joined at the final obstacle by the eventual runner-up Syr Myffos, but showed he had more in reserve, battling gamely under Declan Lavery to the line to win by half a length for owner Wilson Dennison.
“Spiddle Hill has really come into himself the past month,” McCaldin said. “He won well at Kirkistown a few weeks back and Decky gave him another great ride here. He will continue through winners’ ranks.”
Ballyphilip had kickstarted the McCaldin double, as the seven-year-old son of Presenting recorded his first victory since Down Royal in May 2024 and, in doing so, overturned the short-priced favourite and admirable Winged Leader in his quest to add to his 30 point-to-point wins.
Great intent
Recording a pillar-to-post victory in the hands of regular partner Noel McParlan, the pair went out with great intent from the drop of the flag, dictating the pace throughout, and he jumped well on the whole, despite a significant error five-out, which did not break the winner’s stride.
When challenged from the back of two-out he showed great resilience staying on admirably to the line to prevail by one length.
The winning handler stated: “I’m delighted with that win for Ballyphilip. His plan for the year went out the window when he took the fall at Fairyhouse, and it’s taken a while to get back to himself, but Noel gave him a brilliant ride from the front here, and he stayed on well, we are delighted.”
THE mares’ maiden went the way of Cool Native (6/4 - 5/4 favourite), who justified her favourite’s tag for the Denis Murphy team.
An honest gallop was set from the drop of the flag by Peppers Corner, who fenced most impressively, but was ultimately denied by the smart Cool Native on the run to the line.
The five-year-old daughter of Westerner battled gamely under Jack Hendrick to secure victory by three-quarters of a length. It was the fourth start for Cool Native, who had shown consistent form with two second-place finishes prior to this race.
“She was very tough there, she ran in two good maidens prior to this,” Hendrick said.
“The first time she was second to a winner who went on to land a bumper last week for Lucinda Russell, so she was unfortunate to bump into two good sorts, but she was tough there today.”
Seven Towers (G. Quinn): is a well-related Walk In The Park gelding, whose dam is related to Gold Cup winner Lord Windemere.
He had cost £52,000 as a store when purchased by Ian Ferguson, and having finished third on debut at Kirkistown, he showed significant improvement here to finish two lengths behind an impressive winner.
If he can show a similar level of improvement, he should be sure to get off the mark at the next time of asking.