WELL-supported on her debut at Portrush when finishing second behind Darling Daughter, Shopping Around (5/4 - 4/5 favourite) gained compensation to record a facile success under Jamie Codd in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
Ben Crawford took the field along for much of the contest on Moyglass but the favourite always travelled well under Codd and led on the uphill climb to the last fence.
The Doyen mare recorded a four-length success from Moyglass with a gap of two lengths back to Racks Cross.
Racing in the familiar blue colours of Laurence Skelly, Shopping Around a half-sister to hurdle and chase winner Back Before Dawn and is out of Back To Bavaria, a winner five times on the flat and three times over hurdles.
Tom Dreaper, representing his father Jim remarked afterwards: “She was unlucky we thought the last day when she didn’t get a clear run. She has a lovely pedigree and she is as nice a filly as we have had in recent years. She is for sale but if not sold she will go to the track.”
Another winner to benefit from the experience of his debut outing at Portrush was the Sean McParlan-handled Eclair On Line (5/1 - 6/1) in the Saintfield Windows Ltd five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Not beaten by far when seventh at Portrush a fortnight ago, the French-bred son of Dream Well improved for that experience and recorded an impressive success under Noel McParlan, initiating a double for the Hilltown-based rider.
The David Aiken-owned gelding was tracking the leaders before the penultimate fence and soon went clear before the last to return a very impressive eight-length winner from Wilson Dennison’s Islandray.
The winning handler commented: “He had a lovely run in Portrush two weeks ago and learned from that. He was very impressive today and he will improve again. We will go to the sales now.”
double
Local rider Noel McParlan completed his double in the Albert Bartlett winners of two race, as he steered Noel Kelly’s short-priced favourite Decor Irlandais (2/5 - 1/2 favourite) to a 10-length success over recent Durrow winner Krisquin and long-time leader American Image.
Returning to winning ways, having pulled up in a maiden hunter chase at Downpatrick last month, the Hello Sunday gelding quickened to lead before the penultimate fence to score in fine fashion.
The winning handler said afterwards: “He was unlucky at Downpatrick last time and he has returned to form here. He’s a lovely horse and was a different class today. He could run again before the end of the season before possibly going to the track.”
The David Christie-trained Sambremont (5/4 - 6/4 favourite) returned from a mid-season break to make all in the Conduit at Tullyraine House open race under Luke Murphy. Placed in his two most recent outings in the autumn, the former Willie Mullins-trained three-time track winner led from the start and jumped efficiently throughout.
Owned by John Hegarty from Portrush, the son of Saint Des Saints held off the late challenge of the Jim Dreaper-trained Attribution by two lengths at the finish.
“He had a break after the autumn and also had a wind operation from his last run. We freshened him up and he is looking great. He runs best when fresh but at this stage of the season we will run him again a few times and maybe look at a hunter chase for him,” said the winning Derrylin-based handler.
There was no more worthy winner at the Co Down venue as Cosmic Flight (1/1 - 4/5 favourite), who was second on his previous four outings, gained his maiden success in the concluding Barclay Communications six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
Out of three-time track winner Classic Quart, the Stuart Crawford-trained gelding was joined at the last by the Deckie Lavery-ridden Impressive Duke, however the favourite battled gamely on the run in and regained the lead close home under Ben Crawford to score by three-parts of a length.
“He’s a lovely horse and has been knocking on the door a few times. He was a bit unlucky in the past but battled well today. I’m delighted for Patricia (Duffin) as he is a homebred and he will run in winner’s company next.”
Fine Rightly, also trained by Crawford, carried the same colours to success on the track in graded company.
A faller at the first fence on his debut only six days ago at Castletown Geoghegan, the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Mossy Fen (3/1 - 8/1) took the opening Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden under James Walsh. Somptueux picked up the running from Clondaw Pretender soon after the penultimate fence and looked to be travelling the best but James Walsh’s mount Mossy Fen challenged on the run-in and got to the front close home to record a two-length win.
Purchased as a foal at the Goffs December Sale by Nina Carberry for €18,000, the son of Milan was picked up by current connections for €30,000 at the Derby Sale last year.
The Monbeg Syndicate-owned gelding is out of the Denis Murphy-trained chase and points winner Inch Native. Representative Eamon Doyle commented: “He’s a lovely big horse and he had a simple fall the last day but came back well. He is a very nice horse and does everything easy.
“He galloped all the way to the line and would be better on a bigger track. He could develop into a nice big staying chaser and will head to the sales now.”
HORSE TO FOLLOW
MOYLASS (S.R.B. Crawford): The daughter of Westerner has improved with each outing and was second to a decent looking winner. Success in a mares’ maiden looks well within her capabilities.
Safe going
HANDLERS and jockeys at the Loughbrickland point-to-point last Saturday thanked clerk of course Ross McCandless and the hunt, expressing their appreciation for the hard work and efforts watering to ensure safe going at the Co Down venue.
Bentom Boy
THE results of the 1980 Co Down Staghounds point-to-point were printed on the racecard.
Bentom Boy failed to finish in the first three in the Charles Hurst-sponsored two winners’ race but four years later scored in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse under Ann Ferris.
Local success
DAVID Aiken was surrounded by well-wishers looking to pass on their congratulations following the success of Eclair On Line in the five-year-old geldings maiden. The winning owner is a former member of the hunt and was working on the gate at his local point-to-point.