GIGGINSTOWN House Stud were on the mark in the opening four-year-old maiden at Moira last Saturday with Direct Fire (5/2 – 3/1), on the same afternoon Tiger Roll entered the history books in the Grand National.

The Brian Hamilton-trained gelding fenced well throughout and quickened nicely close home to get the better of newcomer Berties Girl by two and a half lengths.

Bred by Philippa Baird, who worked in Hamilton’s Downpatrick base for a number of years, the son of Yeats is a half-brother to multiple winners including the Paul Nicholls-trained Grade 2 scorer Mr Mole.

Acquired by Noel Meade at the Land Rover Sale for €65,000, the winning handler remarked: “He’s a gorgeous horse. Whoever he moves to now is getting a lovely horse.

“He is a savage horse to jump and he would probably want a bit better ground than he had today. He really stayed the distance well today but he is a half-brother to Mr Mole so he is sharp enough too.”

POTENTIAL

Rodney Arthur is hoping there is more to come from Duty Calls (3/1 – 9/2) following his maiden success in the older gelding’s maiden. He was purchased by Rodney’s brother-in-law Ian Ferguson for €15,000 at the Land Rover Sale in 2016.

The Arcadio gelding travelled best to pick up the running before the penultimate fence and cruised clear before the last to record a comprehensive success on his 10th outing, under Luke McGuinness.

“He has run a few good races in defeat but got the rub of the green today. He’s a smashing big horse and is a great mover. My wife Diane has done the work with him from the start and she gets on well with him. I will hopefully sell him now,” said winning handler Arthur.

Absent handler Denis Murphy’s The Mulcair (2/1 – 5/1) made a winning seasonal reappearance to take the five-year-old geldings’ maiden in the colours of Pat Coffey.

Michael Goff’s newcomer Clondaw Dancer made much of the running until falling at the penultimate fence leaving the initiative with The Mulcair, who went clear from the favourite Big Leg Up approaching the last and recorded a five-and-a-half-length success.

The son of Flemensfirth is a €55,000 Derby Sale graduate and out of a half-sister to Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander.

Winning rider Luke Murphy commented afterwards: “He’s a lovely horse but just needed a bit of time. He ran a few times last year but things didn’t go his way and they took their time with him. He is a big, immature horse and will come on for that today. He could head to the sales now.”

POSITIVE RIDE

Brid O’Neill gave Alkaa Lion (2/1 – 9/4) a positive ride to claim the winner-of-three race for Peter McCreery.

Second on his previous outing at Ballyragget, the son of Alkaadhem led after a circuit and stayed on gamely in the closing stages to hold off the late challenge of Vinnies Nephue by three lengths in the four-runner event.

The Kildare-based handler commented: “I’m delighted for Brid to get her first winner as she has been working with me for the last 11 years. He’s a great horse for Brid to ride as she was second on him twice before today. We will keep him pointing.”

Ross McLeigh secured his first winner on his first mount for Caroline McCaldin aboard Ballela Storm (5/1 – 10/1) in the mares’ maiden.

The daughter of September Storm unseated her rider when holding every chance at Kirkistown last month and recorded her success here on her sixth outing.

Racing prominently throughout, the Katherine Acheson-owned mare was produced to lead at the penultimate fence and went clear before the last to score by five lengths from Fyfin Patsy, who stayed-on late under Derek O’Connor.

Ballela Storm is a half-sister to Jonjo O’Neill’s three-time hurdle winner Clues And Arrows and dual winner Banna Beach.

Caroline’s husband Alan was on hand to comment: “Caroline missed this today as she is at the event in Tyrella with our daughter. She was running well the last day and we were thinking she needed softer ground but she showed a gear towards the finish that we hadn’t seen before. She has grown and got stronger throughout the winter and is a lovely mare.

“It’s unfortunate that the owners weren’t here today as they are in Aintree. We will have a chat with them to see where we go next.”

Gary McGill won the open race for the second year running as the veteran Milan Flyer (2/1 – 3/1) showed his liking for the venue scoring under Oran McGill supplying the novice rider with his first success.

Turning out again quickly having finished third at Portrush last weekend, the Milan gelding made much of the running and holding a slight advantage at the last battled gamely to hold off the challenge of Horendus Hulabaloo and Lac Fontana by a length and three-parts of a length.

“He’s a grand horse for a 13-year-old and it is great for Oran to get his first winner on him. Soft ground is the key to him and when we got the rain during the week I was delighted.

“He ran a blinder at Portrush last week but they quickened away from him before the last. He won this race last year and provided the ground remains on the soft side we will keep him pointing,” remarked the winning handler.

NEWS

HOSPITALITY

THE Iveagh Hunt can be commended for the additional hospitality tent which offered tea, coffee and a range of food, a bar which had live tv coverage of the Grand National and a children’s area which included face painting and a ‘guess the weight of the pony’ competition.

GRAND NATIONAL

FRANCO Hughes, the away betting specialist widely known throughout the point-to-point circuit, also provided live coverage of the Grand National meeting.

Franco ensured that those who attended the racing received good value in the big race paying out 1/4 the odds on six places.

FIRST SUCCESS

THREE riders recorded their first point-to-point success at Moira on Saturday kicked off by Ross McLeigh, who was seen to good effect on the Caroline McCaldin-trained Ballela Storm in the mares’ maiden.

The 20-year-old, Downpatrick native currently works for the Colm McBratney stable and has been hunting and show-jumping over the years.

Oran McGill scored on his own Milan Flyer in the open race for his father Gary McGill. The 18-year-old from Maghera rides out for Noel Kelly and obtained his licence before Christmas.

Brid O’Neill from Blessington took the concluding winner’s race on Peter McCreery’s Alkaa Lion.

Having worked in the McCreery yard for many years, Brid rode in a few bumpers and only took out her point-to-point licence earlier this season. Brid’s 30th birthday celebrations took place last week and the full-time healthcare worker has more reasons for celebration following her initial success.

HORSE TO FOLLOW:

BERTIES GIRL (M. Goff): The daughter of Mustameet ran a big race on her debut in the four-year-old maiden and, on this evidence, looks sure to break her duck before progressing further.