THE Sean McParlan-trained Hi Murphy (5/4 – 11/10 favourite) continues to improve through the ranks as the son of Gamut recorded his third consecutive victory when landing the winner of two race.

The favourite was returning from a mid-season break and was up with the pace for much of the contest before going clear on the run-in to record a three-length success under Noel McParlan from the Jim Dreaper-trained Slemish.

“He’s a very good horse and did it well there. He went on again close home and will should improve from that. He could head for a hunter chase now,” remarked the winning handler of the seven-year-old who is owned by Peter Murphy.

COMPETITIVE MAIDEN

The father and son combination of Sean and Noel McParlan followed up again half an hour later with Royal Drumlee (3/1 – 5/1) in the concluding six-year-old and upwards gelding’s maiden.

The Royal Anthem gelding is the first produce and winner out of the hurdle placed mare Eveningofelegance. Purchased privately by current connections, he was unsold at Tattersalls August National Hunt sale when realising €6,500 in 2016.

Second on his debut in a competitive maiden at Loughanmore behind The Echo Boy, the six-year-old confirmed that promise here making quick headway from the penultimate fence to lead at the last and record a game two-length success from the Denis O’Sullivan-handled Duckphil.

“Noel said he didn’t like the dead ground but he fairly quickened coming down the hill. He’s a lovely horse and will improve for the run. He will head to the sales now,” said McParlan.

The most impressive winner of the afternoon was the Jim Dreaper-trained Sizing Coal (4/5 – 4/6 favourite) in the open race, providing former champion rider Jamie Codd with a treble on the afternoon.

Second to Stand Up And Fight at Down Royal at Christmas, the Presenting gelding looked a different class here, quickening clear on the run-in to record a facile seven-length success from Winged Leader.

Scoring in the colours of the late Alan Potts, Tom Dreaper commented: “I’m delighted with that. We have been waiting on soft ground and on the strength of his run in Down Royal he was entitled to win like he did. We will continue pointing and could head for the Joseph O’Reilly hunter chase.”

TREBLE

The first leg of Codd’s treble was initiated by Silver In Disguise (7/2 – 3/1 co-favourite) in the five-year-old gelding’s maiden for rookie handler Alan Ahern. To the fore for much of the contest, the five-year-old travelled best on the uphill climb to the last and stayed on gamely to record a two-length success from the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Go Whatever.

The well-bred Sulamani gelding was purchased by Knockbally Stud at the 2017 edition of the Goffs Land Rover sale for €25,000 and is now running in the colours of the Clondun Partnership.

He is a half-brother to dual track and recent Dublin Racing Festival winner Whisperinthebreeze and looks the type that will progress to have success on the track.

The Cork-based handler reported: “He’s a lovely horse and he ran a big race on his debut in Rathcannon. I ran him too quickly at Boulta so we waited until now. There is still improvement in him and he’s related to some nice winners. He will head to the sales now.”

The second leg of Codd’s treble was secured on the Stuart Crawford-trained Wheesht (3/1 – 9/2) in the competitive 12-runner five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. Purchased at the Tattersalls Ireland August National Hunt sale for €4,200, the Scorpion mare is a half-sister to dual novice hurdle winner Billingsley.

The newcomer gave an exhibition of jumping throughout and travelling notably well at the penultimate fence, Codd produced the five-year-old to lead on the run-in and score going away by two and a half lengths from Oldtown-placed Trickey Trix.

The winning handler said: “We were a wee bit worried today thinking she would need a faster track but she coped with it very well. She has the speed to run in a bumper but she is such a good jumper we decided to start her in point-to-points. She is a nice moving animal and appreciates a bit of cut in the ground.” Crawford also indicated that his winner is likely to head to the sales now.

Spectators were treated to a thrilling finish in the opening six-runner confined hunt winners race as last year’s older maiden winner Longtymegone (5/1 – 6/1) got the verdict by a head. Having failed to trouble the judge in winner’s company since taking his maiden at this venue last year, the Portrait Gallery gelding recorded his second victory here.

The James-Lambe-trained debutant Henry Africa fell when in contention three from home leaving McConville’s mount with a healthy advantage. The Barry O’Neill-partnered Our Bonus mounted a serious challenge on the run in but the previous track winner battled gamely to get the verdict at the post by a head.

The winning owner, handler and rider said: “He is a nice horse that has had his problems and won his maiden well here last year. The hunt race was the plan and he will continue to run in points.”

HORSE TO FOLLOW

DUCKPHIL (D O’Sullivan): The six-year-old finished fourth at Oldtown earlier this month before confirming that promise with an improved effort behind Royal Drumlee. The Denis O’Sullivan-trained gelding looks likely to lose his maiden status in the coming weeks.

O’Sullivan recovering

FORMER ladies champion Aileen O’Sullivan suffered a broken vertebra at Punchestown recently but was in attendance at Armagh last Saturday. The Meath-based rider witnessed her father’s Duckphil finish second in the concluding older maiden under her boyfriend Neil Gault. Aileen remarked: “I finished fourth on him the last day at Oldtown and should have been closer. I was screaming him up the hill and he ran a great race. I hope to be back riding later in the season.”

First winners

ALAN Ahern made the long trip north from his Middleton base in Co Cork a winning one as Silver In Disguise scored under Jamie Codd providing him with his first winner as a handler from only his fifth runner. Ahern’s other runner’s Ajay’s Ways and Notre Pari both run big races on their debut’s and could ensure the rookie handler returns to the winner’s enclosure in the coming weeks.

Daire McConville recorded a treble at this venue last season and the Portadown rider enjoyed further success at the Armagh venue as Longtymegone provided him with his first success as a handler. He also saddled his own Anseanachai Cliste to finish third in the open. race.