SAM Curling was responsible for a brace of winners at the Tipperary Foxhounds’ third and final fixture at Lisronagh on Sunday. It was the newcomer, Arcadian Emperor (5/2 – 3/1 joint-favourite), a €30,000 Derby Sale purchase, who got the day off to a flying start for the Tipperary handler, as he took the opening four-year-old maiden in impressive fashion.

The Kamsin-sired gelding benefitted from a fine waiting ride to be produced after the second last fence by David Doyle and went on to score by six lengths from fellow newcomer, Lisbane Park.

“We’ve had a few nice horses by Kamsin, including subsequent Grade 2 winner Kamsinas, who is now trained by Fergal O’Brien,” Curling remarked.

“He got a very good ride. We had planned to sit upsides in front, but David said he was green going to the start, so he dropped him in and educated him. He has the makings of a very good rider.”

Dominant victory

The ladies’ open saw seven runners go to post and it was the admirable mare La Feline (5/2 – 3/1), who really stamped her authority on this contest, when bounding clear between the final two fences under regular partner Toni Quail to win by five lengths from Go Another One.

Owned by John O’Leary, she continues to be a credit to all concerned and this victory brings her tally of point-to-point wins to 12, while also completing a double on the day for Curling. He stated: “La Feline will be covered shortly, and she’ll keep running for Toni for the rest of the year. I’m delighted for Toni, as she works very hard.”

Local luck

There was further success for local runners in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden, which saw an all-the-way winner in Bly Manor (6/1), who is a sister to Grade 1-winner Brandy Love, from the Harry Kelly yard. Clearly a talented individual in her own right, she made every post a winning one under a positive David Kiely ride to beat Coolanna by six lengths.

Winning breeders Kieran Ryan and Tim Nolan were on hand to welcome their charge back into the winner’s enclosure.

“She has a great pedigree and the lads are great,” the local handler remarked, when reflecting on the performance.

“Kieran and Tim own her and are great supporters of mine.

“We think she’s a fair mare and going forward, if she’s not sold, she’ll go straight to the track.”

THE five-year-old geldings’ maiden saw a fiercely fought out conclusion between Kazansky and Ballindenisk, with the latter receiving the judge’s verdict by a head in a driving finish under Sean Staples for handler, John Murphy.

Jackomy, the Andrew Slattery-trained newcomer, looked set for victory before crashing out at the final fence, when holding a clear advantage.

The Oisin Mahon-owned Ballindenisk (5/2 favourite) had made a pleasing debut at Kildorrery earlier this month and was entitled to step forward from that effort.

“We probably rode him a bit wrong that day,” the winning handler’s son, George Murphy explained. “He was just left with a lot of horses in front of him. He did find it a little bit tight around here today, but he is a very nice horse. We have no plans for him yet.”

Ryan’s redemption

Jackomy’s rider Adam Ryan gained some compensation when he was seen to good effect with a fine waiting ride, which saw him produce Rosier The (4/1) to win the older geldings’ maiden for Kilmanagh-based handler, Louise Lyons.

The imposing son of Manatee came from well off the pace to be delivered before the second last fence and score by a length and a half at the finish from fellow debutant, Unfortunatecharlie.

“We bought him as a foal in France,” delighted owner Nicky Teehan explained. “He was a big, tall, weak horse and just took a bit of time to develop. He has a half-sister in France, and I don’t think she’s too bad, as she has good form at Auteuil.

“I’m not overly surprised at that performance today. We have only got two or three riding out and I’d imagine that there would be a fair bit of improvement in him. He’s for sale now.”

THE five-year-old and upwards unplaced maiden featured the largest field of the day, with 15 previously unplaced horses going to post for the finale. In what was a fast-paced affair, which saw the field well strung out from an early stage, it was the Mick Goff-trained Passing Diamond (7/2 – 4/1) who proved to be a class above the rest and went on to seal the contest, with a good jump at the final fence to give his rider Matt Gahan a second career success.

The Diamond Boy-sired gelding, who ran in the colours of Goff’s wife Catriona, benefitted from the drying ground conditions and should now comfortably slot into winners’ company in the coming weeks.

“He loved that better surface here today and it was clear to see that he was the best horse in the race. I’m delighted for Matt who works for me, and we’ll leave Matt on him now, as he’s a grand horse for him to get a bit of experience on,” winning handler Goff, remarked.

Horse to Follow

Jackomy (A. Slattery): A debutant son of Doyen, who looked to have the five-year-old geldings’ maiden at his mercy before coming to grief at the final fence when holding a clear advantage. This still looked to be a taking performance and he is sure to be a threat to all, wherever he may appear next.