COLIN Bowe is in the midst of a purple patch at present and the Kiltealy-based handler sent out a further two winners at Sunday’s Kilworth and Araglen Harriers meeting, which was staged behind closed doors at Ballyarthur. Both of Bowe’s winners were partnered by Barry O’Neill and the pair signed off with newcomer Red Lion Lad in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Red Lion Lad, who possesses a stellar pedigree considering that his winning dam is a half-sister to dual Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Master Minded, was always positioned close to the pace as Thunder Rock tried to make all in this seven-runner contest. Thunder Rock didn’t aid his cause by blundering at the second last of the 15 obstacles and he was soon joined by Tommy Dillon.

The latter gave way before the final fence as the winning son of Flemensfirth came through to lead and the €155,000 Goffs Land Rover Sale graduate then powered clear to contain Thunder Rock by 10 lengths in the familiar Milestone Racing Partnership silks. Tommy Dillon was held in third spot when falling at the last. O’Neill remarked of Red Lion Lad: “He’s a nice horse that we think quite a lot of. He will improve for the run and will now go to the sales.”

The Bowe/O’Neill brace was instigated by another first-timer in Maggies Mogul in the four-year-old mares’ maiden. Maggies Mogul was bounced out at the head of affairs and the physically imposing daughter of Valirann gave a polished display of fencing in front. Flames Of Passion emerged to go second after the penultimate obstacle and she had closed to within a half-length when erring at the final fence.

Maggies Mogul was in no mood to be denied and she ultimately repelled Flames Of Passion by two lengths, the pair returning fully 15 lengths clear of the third-placed Whitmans Lass.

Maggies Mogul was well bought for €9,500 as a foal by her owner Seamus Murphy from Ballyhogue at the 2016 November Sale at Tattersalls, the late-May foal is already a sister to two track winners and her dam is an own-sister to Gigginstown House Stud’s former 143-rated chaser Real Steel.

O’Connor sublime aboard Karlie

DEREK O’Connor also departed with two winners, the Galwegian signing off courtesy of Ellmarie Holden’s Kilandra in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Kilandra, having finished a creditable third on the initial of his three autumn forays at Loughrea in October, was well positioned throughout and he went for home after two-out.

Runner-up Street Value refused to yield in the closing stages, he was still some two lengths adrift at the line.

Holden intimated that her mother Catherine’s Kilandra is likely to be offered for sale.

Victory

Former champion O’Connor earlier gave the Richie Harding-trained Karlie a sublime waiting ride to claim victory in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Karlie, who provided ample indication of ability by coming fifth on her debut in the Kildorrery maiden won by Blue Sans last month, made smooth progress from three out to pick up the running on the outer after the second-last.

It was all plain sailing thereafter as the daughter of Schiaparelli bounded clear to beat the ultra-consistent Blue Milan by three lengths in the silks of Ray Fitzgerald from Broomfield outside Midelton.

A bumper is now under consideration for Karlie, provided that she’s not sold.

Allen brothers reign supreme

CONCRETE King has developed into a formidable soft-ground performer and the son of Morozov recorded his third success of the campaign and his fourth in total by capturing the winners of three under his owner/trainer Sean Allen’s younger brother Darragh.

The six-year-old Concrete King, who posted a probable career best effort on his previous start by coming third in the Knockanard open, made all the running and he jumped solidly in the main. He always seemed to be travelling marginally better than Templebredin from two out and he gamely repelled Sam Curling’s charge by one and a half lengths in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

The elder Allen, who dedicated this victory to the memory of 27-year-old Tom O’Donoghue from Kilworth who sadly died a few weeks earlier, expects that Concrete King will show further progression next season.

The concluding five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden developed into a match and Solar Sovereign vindicated the promise of his second-placed effort in a similar type of Kildorrery contest last month by scoring under Johnny Hurley.

The five-year-old Solar Sovereign readily quickened clear from the last to see off Jeremy Central by five lengths.

It seems probable that owner/trainer/breeder Edmond Kent will now aim Solar Sovereign at a winners’ race.

Horse to follow

Thunder Rock (O. Hegarty): This son of Shirocco gave it a good go from the front on his debut in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. A penultimate fence error didn’t help and he couldn’t raise his effort when the winner Red Lion Lad forged past before the last. He ran considerably better than being beaten by 10 lengths into second spot indicates and a bright track career is likely to beckon.

Up and coming

RICHIE Harding is a name that we are likely to hear more of in the training ranks. The former Cheltenham Festival-winning rider struck with Karlie in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden on Sunday.

That mare’s stable-companion Broomfield Present made a pleasing debut to come third in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Harding also sent out Scene Not Herd to win at Turtulla in November and this son of Aizavoski went on to finish third on his track debut for Charlie Longsdon in a Wincanton bumper in January.