THE Irish Field champion Jamie Codd was the star of the show at Oldcastle on Sunday when winning on four of his five rides. He first joined forces with Denis Murphy to land the opening Goffs Bloodstock four-year-old maiden with Pat Coffey’s Lisheen Prince (6/4-7/2-7/4), a newcomer by the recently retired Oscar.

Minmore Present kicked on after three out but Codd’s mount could be seen edging ever closer as they began to climb uphill. Taking a lead over the penultimate fence, Lisheen Prince effortlessly went to the front before the turn for home but had to be kept up to his work approaching the last as Eamon An Cnoic stayed on well. However, a mistake at the final fence put paid to that debutant’s chances and Lisheen Prince was three lengths up at the line.

The favourite Some Reign (2/1-1/1-2/1), who lost a shoe on the way to the start and had to be reshod, was a further four lengths back in third.

“He’s for sale alright but we won’t be rash,” said Murphy who was being tempted by the sponsor’s Nick Nugent to enter the winner for their Punchestown dispersal. “We’ll let him recover from today. He’s a big horse but he’s a good horse.”

Lisheen Prince is the first foal out of Dino’s Monkey, an unraced Mr Dinos half-sister to the graded winners Hey Big Spender and Miss Orchestra, the latter dam of Battlecry and Value At Risk.

Codd doubled up in the open lightweight on Ross Na Righ (1/1-7/4) who was given a similar ride. The 11-year-old Presenting gelding delayed his challenge until the second last where he headed the longtime leader Duers and Bullock Harbour and quickly had matters under control. He came home six lengths clear of the rallying Folduf who had lost his prominent pitch after the fourth last.

“He’ll go for another open in a week or two,” commented trainer Sam Curling of his father Peter’s winner. The 6/4 favourite, Local Celebrity, fell five out.

THIRD WINNER

Piltown trainer David O’Brien supplied Codd with his third winner of the day, Mullinavat (2/1 steady). The Beneficial bay was the most experienced starter in the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden where he made all the running to beat Western Climate by eight lengths.

The well-fancied newcomer De Plotting Shed (7/4-6/4) was challenging for the lead when falling at the second last while Craig Star hit the deck at the final fence.

“He’ll go for a bumper next,” said O’Brien of Mullinavat whose English owner, Mike Allen, was on hand to see his winner.

The novice-ridden Katie’s Oscar tried to make all in the winners of one but, on board the Derek Pugh-owned and trained Mattara (5/2, steady) who was never far off the pace, Codd pounced to take over the lead at the second last.

To her credit, the longtime leader didn’t throw in the towel when headed and was on terms again at the final fence. To her rider’s frustration however, Mattara proved too strong on the run-in going away to bring up Codd’s four-timer by a comfortable three lengths.

“Consistent and genuine,” was Pugh’s description of his Carroll House gelding who looked in superb condition before the race. “He’ll be a fun ride for whoever buys him.” The 2/1 favourite Applesandpierres fell at halfway.

Although sent off 7/4 favourite for the Tattersalls Ireland/Ballymacad Members’ five and six-year-old mares’ maiden, Codd’s mount Mrs Choice never looked likely to oblige.

PATIENTLY-RIDDEN

On the other hand, the patiently-ridden Pennywell appeared to have matters in control when coming wide turning for home to challenge Shine Away and Putrakin who had been up front throughout. Running around in front of the last, Pennywell still jumped that fence a length up on Shine Away but she ducked to her right halfway up the run-in, unseating Noel McParlan.

Putrakin (3/1-4/1) came back at Shine Away at this stage and the pair flashed by the post together. While neither novice rider was prepared to go to the No 1 spot, the verdict came down a short-head in favour of Putrakin who gave Fergal Harford his second career win, the first coming in the 2009/10 campaign.

“She’ll go back to the track now,” said Willie Newman who trains the homebred six-year-old at his Curragh Farm Stud outside Kells. “I only have her pointing to promote my stallion, Putra Pekan, and she’s his third winner. They’re easy trained.”

A return to the racecourse may also be on the agenda for Admiral Bob (7/2-3/1) who, given a well-judged ride by Niall Redmond, beat Puzzlemethis by four lengths going away in the concluding older horses’ maiden for novice riders.

The successful Bob’s Return gelding will continue to run in points for the immediate future as trainer Helen Markham bought the 10-year-old as a fun horse for her father John.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

EAMON AN CNOIC (D.M. O’Brien): This good-looking Westerner gelding was unlucky to run into Lisheen Prince here and should win before long. Denis Tarrant’s four-year-old is the third of five foals out of his hurdle-winning dam Nutmeg Tune (by Accordion).

Excellent track

THE Ballymacads’ point-to-point track on the Cosgrove family’s farm near Oldcastle, Co Meath is one of the best in the country and, thanks to clerk of the course John Bonham and his team, was in excellent condition for Sunday’s meeting.

It’s such a shame that the venue doesn’t attract more spectators as every bit of the action can be seen from the viewing area.

There were few present from other equestrian disciplines, many no doubt tempted away by the hunter trials in Carlanstown.

Sharon’s dog

VIRGINIA amateur Sharon Byrne was most disappointed not to be riding at her local meeting having injured her knee. With no horse to look after, she brought along her lovely Great Dane Rebel Rosco. The two-year-old blue merle dog won 22 firsts in the show ring last season and four championships.

Turn-out awards

TATTERSALLS’ merchandise manager Sarah Talbot judged the turn-out awards on Sunday. The awards were sponsored by Kiernan Milling of Granard who provided three bags of their cool mix for each winner. The hunt received much local sponsorship for their races.

Confident winner

ENGLISH owner Mike Allen was so confident of his David O’Brien-trained Mullinavat winning the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden that he was heard enquiring well before the race if he could take the cup home!

They won all right but John and his son Andrew could only pose with the cup for the post-race photographs before it was surrendered back into the care of the organisers.

Allen also has horses in England with Jennie Candlish including another Beneficial gelding, Kilkenny Kim, who won a handicap hurdle last month at Sedgefield.