RACEGOERS were treated to a gorgeous day at Oldcastle, where the opening four-year-old maiden was won by the impressive Green Style (4/1 - 3/1) for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

This Ross Crawford-trained son of Idaho was a €35,000 purchase from the Goffs Arkle sale, which looks like some value now, as he was settled in midfield early, fencing with fluency.

With Stephen Connor in the saddle, he started to make steady progress on the final circuit, travelling strongly into second before the second last.

He quickly asserted before the last and forged clear to win going away by three lengths and supply the Crawford brothers with a weekend double in the category.

“My brother has the responsibility of this horse,” Stuart Crawford said. “Obviously, we didn’t want to run the horse yesterday against him [Largy Go]. He may just be one for the Punchestown Sales Bumper now.”

Diamond’s time to shine

The five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden was captured by Newbrook Diamond (5/2 - 7/2) for the in-form Adrian Murray stable. Bred and owned by John McGivney, he gained compensation for running out on his debut, battling well to the line.

The Balko gelding was upsides jumping the last, but with a slight mistake from his chief rival Court Compliance, he duly capitalised to score by two lengths.

Kevin Healy, who is now just one winner off the lead in the under-21 leaderboard, stated: “He did it well there. He’s green, but has loads of ability, he is a scopey horse with a lot of speed. Adrian filled me with confidence today, and he’s done a fine job there.”

Lording it

The older maiden for novice riders was full of firsts, as the consistent Winning Paddy (5/2 - 2/1) gave the father-son combination of Adam Lord junior and senior their first successes.

The son of Ocovango was narrowly beaten in Oldtown on his penultimate start, so he was due this victory. At the outset, his jumping was sticky, but as the tempo lifted, it improved, and he found himself in a challenging position just after the third last.

As usual, he never quickened but kept galloping, and with his best jump at the last sealing the deal, the seven-year-old kept on for a two-and-a-half-length victory from debutant Toffee.

“He’s been running well, just hitting the crossbar,” said the winning owner-handler. “Adam gave him a good ride and kept his head down to the last, so that was great.

“He can be a bit careful, but better ground improves his jumping. We’ve been schooling him over banks recently, so we could head to Punchestown.”

CLAIRE O’Connell continued her wonderful run of form, as Noble Name (3/1 - 5/1) won the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden in commanding fashion.

Coming from a home-bred family, which the handler has done especially well with, she was ridden very cold; however, these tactics did pay dividends as she settled nicely.

Joey Dunne moved her into contention after jumping the fourth last, before swooping around the field to hold a length advantage before the last. She kept on to record a four-length success with Jurassic Pet in second.

“We were just letting her come along nicely there in The Folly [Oldtown], because she can be a bit hot, and Belclare didn’t suit her as it’s a front-running track,” enthused O’Connell of the five-year-old that is owned by her husband Paul O’Sullivan.

“We thought this would suit her; she’s a full-sister to Born Famous and Born Bright, who won for me there two weeks ago. We’ll look now for the point bumper in Cork over Easter or else head to a winners’ race.”

Unbeaten

The concluding mares’ winners-of-two, was won by recent Daramona House scorer Dora D’or (5/4 - 6/4) who maintained her unbeaten record. Ross O’Sullivan’s mare settled in midfield, before having her own battle with market rival and eventual second Eyes Off Annie.

The daughter of Golden Lariat was half a length down jumping the last, but stuck on resolutely to return victorious by one and a half lengths for owner Jameina Scarisbrick.

Winning jockey Jamie Scallan stated: “That’s the first time I’ve sat on her, but Ross and Lee [Shanahan] were very confident coming here and I think she’ll keep improving, as she’s green there.”

CREDITABLE track performer Macgiloney (4/1) got off to the perfect start in open company, as he gained a debut success in the division for owner Michael Moloney.

The 12-year-old was ridden by James Sampson, for whom this was also his first winner, as he dropped the Milan gelding out with a strong gallop being set up front.

He was well back with a circuit to go; however, the further they went the more progress Macgiloney was making. Fourth after the second last, he came with a well-timed challenge to jump the last and go on by three-quarters of a length, whilst only doing enough with Born By The Sea in second.

The now 12-time winner’s handler Denis Hogan stated: “He’s a star. I’m thrilled for the lads who own him; one of them is going through a tough time at the minute, so that will give him a lift.

“I was going to go back to the track with him, as there’s still loads of life left there, but I just thought he’d give James great experience and teach him all the while. James is a great lad and works very hard at home, so it’s good to get that for him.”

Horse to Follow

Jurassic Pet (A. Murray): A homebred mare for owner James Robinson, the Sholokov’s jumping let her down in the middle of the race, seeing her drop to last before the final circuit. It somewhat improved on the final circuit, and she stayed on very strongly up the hill for an unforeseeable second beaten four lengths.