Margie McLoone

THE United Hunt have been racing at Templenacarriga outside Lisgoold since the 2013/14 season when, on Sunday, January 5th, there were eight races with the opening five-year-old geldings’ maiden and the concluding seven-year-old and upwards maiden being divided.

Mikey O’Connor, who recently returned to race-riding following a short ‘retirement’, partnered his 350th winner when the Kevin O’Sullivan-trained Ballyadeen landed the 18-runner six-year-old geldings’ maiden, while the confined maiden was claimed by the Larry Murphy-ridden Golden Crisp.

That Gold Well gelding won two more points in Ireland and three from nine starts in England in the second half of last season.

Derek O’Connor partnered two winners for Robert Tyner, the better of the pair being the ill-fated Carrigmoorna Rock who, on her third start, landed the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden. The 2008 King’s Theatre bay won a bumper, three hurdles and a chase before suffering a fatal injury when falling in the Listed Opera Hat Mares Chase in February 2016 on her third start over fences.

Tyner has made three entries for tomorrow’s meeting at Templenacarriga which gets under way at 12.30pm with the Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old mares’ maiden. The Kinsale-based handler has the French-bred Dix De Der in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, where, of those who have run, the Colin Bowe-trained Big Difference looks to have a good chance. There are 34 entries in this race, 14 more than in the opener.

There are 21 entries in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden including Tyner’s pair, Gotaway and the newcomer Touch Tight.

Of the form horses, the market-leaders here should be the Shark Hanlon-trained Newlands Cross who, on his only previous start, finished a well-beaten second behind Benatar at Loughbrickland in November 2016, and Paul Cashman’s Ask Robin who also filled the runner-up slot at Knockanard last February on his sole appearance.

Derrylin trainer David Christie never minds travelling in search of winners and he has David Maxwell’s Velvet Maker among the 11 entries for the open.

The second half of the British season was due to commence yesterday with the Harkaway Club meeting at Chaddesley Corbett, while the Cambridgeshire Harriers Hunt Club race at Cottenham tomorrow.