ON a mild but overcast day, David Christie rounded off the latter half of the card with a treble, the first of which came with the renowned Winged Leader (4/7 - 4/6 favourite).
He gained compensation for a mishap on his last start two weeks earlier to win for a fifth time at Portrush, the home venue of his owners, John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane.
Last season’s champion pointer registered his 30th success between the flags on this occasion, leaving him joint second and three wins off the record-winning most pointer, Still William.
The 11-year-old bounced out and made all without ever looking in trouble. He began to build the tempo on the last circuit, which drew the sting out of the fortuitous last-time-out winner Gorthill, while also catching Gordon Elliott’s charge Hollow Games out for a turn of foot.
Ultimately, he winged the last when wrong and was still only doing enough to the line to win by three lengths under Barry O’Neill.
“There is only one word to describe him and that’s legend,” O’Neill stated. “We were meeting the last wrong, and the revs were up, so I just said do whatever you want there - he had loads left. It’s a great training performance by David Christie after being unlucky the last day.”
Broke his duck
The next leg of Christie’s hat-trick came in the older geldings’ maiden, as Syr Maffos (evens - 4/6 favourite) broke his duck at the fifth attempt between the flags.
Sam Hamilton settled the seven-year-old in the middle of the pack, before picking up the initiative after the third last.
He went six lengths clear before the second last and maintained this advantage to the line to land The Dundarave Cup by defeating Ballykelly by seven and a half lengths.
“That is great to get that,” Christie said. “He got injured and was out for a year and a half, but he’s came back a more mature horse. He’s out of Maple Mons, who was a top mare, but it’s a very late-maturing family, and he’s the same.
“He has actually grown two inches since we’ve gotten him as a five-year-old, so he’s just slow maturing.”
Treble up
The final leg of what was a treble for both Christie and O’Neill came in the winner of two, with My Life Be Like (9/4) backing up his recent success in Kirkistown.
The eventual winner was challenged by Jim The Wolf and the pair set down to do battle in the straight, when drawing clear of the rest.
Both had every chance on the approach to the last, with the jump all important, but unfortunately, Jim The Wolf capsized, leaving Shane Wilson and Jamesy Hagan’s gelding as the 22-length victor over Cadoudal Saint.
“He has improved with every run,” David Christie jnr said. “It’s getting testing enough out there, so it’s good to see him do that. He has a lot of natural ability and a big engine.”
Lultimatom win shows lots of class
THE most northern circuit in the country was lit up in the four-year-old maiden by Lultimatom (5/2 - 2/1 favourite), who quickened away to record a ready success. On his debut, this racy son of Cokoriko seemed to know his job, as he made all under Declan Lavery for Paddy Turley.
He was always in command, but there was a slight moment for worry, as he steadied on the approach to the second last; however, once asked, the €50,000 Goffs Arkle store quickly put the race to bed to score with five lengths back to Ballyvic, who was the only other finisher.
Declan Lavery reported: “He jumped and travelled brilliantly. He has a lot of class and his homework was very good, he’s extremely straightforward.
“We jumped off in front and did everything easily, he was only in second gear. I steadied up to the second last and then he went on again. We were flying down to the last, but he’s a very good horse.”
Recorded double
Lavery was also in the colours of Mary Turley, as the Downpatrick team recorded a double on the day, when She’s Delighted (2/1 favourite) shed her maiden tag at the fourth attempt in the mares’ maiden.
This mare had cost £15,000 from the Goffs UK Store sale and was slightly unfortunate not to claw back a runaway winner when second, beaten a length a fortnight earlier in Kirkistown.
Given a similar ride to the stable’s first winner, the daughter of Vadamos opened an advantage after the third last, before being challenged by the staying on Catwalk Girl before two out. A good jump at two out sealed the deal and she went clear before the last to win in facile fashion by seven lengths.
“She had fairly turned a corner after a couple of runs,” Lavery said. “She felt like a different filly there today, jumps class and she won easily.”
Collins on another winner
BARRY O’Neill was first on the scoreboard with the well-punted Ring Of Kerry (3/1 - 5/4 favourite), who scored for Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer, Cian Collins.
The €20,000 Goffs foal was another winner on the day to make all, but he did not have an easy lead, as Clough Clouds pestered him until after three out.
After quickening clear of this rival, he kept on well and fended off the late surge of Jukehill close home to win quite cosily.
“He’s still very green, Barry said he was just lairy, but it was never in doubt,” Collins said of the bay, who is owned by his uncle Noel.
“He missed the last a bit, but that was because he was getting lonely.
“He has never come off the bridle before and his work at home is top-class, so we were expecting that today.”
Jukehill (C. McCaldin): The son of Jukebox Jury was given a quiet ride, racing in rear for most of the race, he started to stay on strongly before the second last and was only really getting into top gear close home.