POINT-to-point fans who were lucky enough to be at Kirkistown on Saturday saw a potentially top-class sort in the opening four-year-old maiden. Seven runners faced the starter as the tapes went up, but once Broughshane (5/2 – 3/1) and Noel McParlan took over the running at the halfway point, they weren’t for catching.

The Philip McBurney-owned son of Mahler slowly burnt off his rivals one-by-one as the runners headed out on their final circuit, coming home an eight-length winner over the Cormac Doyle-trained Copshill Lad.

Double

It was the first leg of a double on the day for Noel McParlan, who said: “I rode him six weeks ago and I thought he was a really nice horse. I said that it would take a serious horse to beat him. He did everything well, he jumped and travelled everywhere for me.”

McParlan completed his double in the concluding older maiden on the Colin McKeever-trained, Iddergem (3/1 - 4/1).

The son of Youmzain was given a patient ride by McParlan as the pair started to make their progress through the field from the fourth last.

They ran out cosy eight-length winners in the end, from the Neil McKnight-trained, Dunboy Lad. It was a third success of the season for McKeever and an eighth for McParlan.

“He had a great run two runs ago at Tattersalls, only beaten a neck. We went back three weeks later and he couldn’t get around. A lot of horses were threatening as if they were going to do something and then disappointing.

“We have changed a lot of things and I’m just hoping that’s the start of a new season! He has ability and will be sold now,” said McKeever of the Wilson Dennison-owned gelding.

ROB James is having a fantastic season, sitting second in the riders’ standings and he came away from the Co Down venue with a treble.

He kickstarted the treble in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden on the Shark Hanlon-trained Value Till Dawn (5/2 - 3/1).

The daughter of Dylan Thomas was unlucky at Tyrella two weeks ago but was very much on song here as she ran out a cosy four-length winner from the Noel Kelly-trained debutante, Celebrating Katie.

“She was a bit too wide the last day at Tyrella and she ran out. She will make a lovely hurdling filly over two and a half miles, I think three miles is probably just too much for her.

Rob gave her a great ride – he’s different class! He’s worth a stone and a half to everyone else,” said Hanlon of the Rachel O’Neill-owned mare.

Tip-top Man

James’ second leg of his treble was brought up in the four-runner open lightweight as the David Christie-trained Some Man (5/4 favourite) supplemented his course-and-distance win in November by cruising to a 20-length success over the Stuart Crawford-trained Poli Roi. The winning son of Beat Hollow was recording his sixth win between the flags from only eight runs.

“He was in great form, he was bouncing going to the start. David said he was in great form and he had him in tip top shape coming here,” said James of the Ray Nicholas-owned gelding.

“He was taking lengths out of the rest of them jumping, and I was able to take him back every time. He had them well covered turning in. When the ground suits him, and he’s on song, it takes a good one to beat him.”

Beyondapproach lives up to her name

THE Rob James treble was completed in the mares’ winner of two contest, courtesy of the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Beyondapproach (3/1 -7/2). The daughter of Jeremy was recording her second success between the flags, having shed her maiden tag at Bellurgan Park in April 2018.

James never had a moment’s worry on the Monbeg Syndicate-owned mare, who ran out a comfortable 18-length winner over the recent Tyrella winner, Tamlaght Eyes.

“She was very bad the last day – she could have been a bit sick. She had a lovely run in Tattersalls before Christmas and we just gave her a bit of time after the last run. She jumped well and travelled away on that ground. Hopefully she will stay in winners’ races now for the rest of the season,” said Doyle.

Tough Sageburg

The five-year-old geldings’ maiden had the joint biggest field of the day with 10 runners lining up, and it went the way of the Peter Fahey-trained newcomer, Sageburg County (6/1 - 5/1).

The son of Sageburg was held up early by Declan Lavery but he made some eye-catching progress down the back straight on the final circuit to put himself firmly in contention.

He hit the front on the turn for home and he had to be tough on the run-in to fend off the fast finishing Speed Gang. There was a neck to separate the pair at the line.

“We went slow, it’s taking a bit of getting today. He travelled and jumped brilliantly. He was a bit lazy in front going to the last but I’d say if something had got to him, he would have kept going. He’ll improve a fair bit from that,” said Lavery of the Bernadette Leigh-owned gelding.

Horse to follow

Celebrating Katie (N. C. Kelly): The well-backed daughter of Sans Frontieres was making her debut here and she finished a highly promising second. She should have little difficulty in winning her maiden in the coming months.