JUST 22 of 56 starters managed to complete the course in the six races down for decision, with testing conditions taking a toll at this popular stamina-sapping venue.

A sight that has become increasingly familiar in recent times, Derek O’Connor claimed the opening four-year-old maiden with Shuffle The Deck (7/4 - 2/1 favourite).

One of three O’Connor representatives in this 11-runner field of debutants and described as ‘a bit special’ in the immediate aftermath, the J.P. McManus-owned bay was given a patient ride by his handler.

Making good progress from four out, the McManus homebred got to the front before the last and kept on well when ridden on the run-in, seeing off the effort of Mondoui’boy by a length and a quarter.

Registering his fifth four-year-old winner since the turn of the year and his second in as many days, O’Connor reflected: “I’m in a very, very privileged position. I’m after getting a real nice bunch of horses and I really appreciate the opportunity that I’ve been given.

“He was in behind them and raced green throughout, so I think what he done today was very special.”

Another in-form handler claimed the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, with Ellen Doyle’s Bride Rovers Abu (10/1 - 12/1) springing a surprise in this 11-runner affair.

In the colours of the Baltimore Stables Syndicate, the €21,000 Goffs Land Rover Sale purchase was one of four Doyle representatives in the line-up.

Her Jardin D’ebene was still in front when falling two out, with the Frankie Murphy-ridden victor coming from an unpromising position to lead before the last, going on to account for Walking On A Dream by three lengths.

Come on for run

“We are happy with that. He doesn’t really show us a whole lot at home. He ran in Ballinaboola and has come on for that run,” Doyle commented,

“Jardin D’ebene was probably our main hope. He was going well and doing everything right at home, but they all had a chance.

“That’s our fourth winner since the turn of the year and hopefully we can keep it going now.”

There was a further surprise result in the mares’ winners’ of two, with Native Song (4/1 - 8/1) upstaging her better-fancied rivals under James Murphy.

The Paul Kiely-trained victor was left in front by the fall of the hat-trick seeking My Best Valentine three fences from the finish.

While briefly joined before the next, the Fame And Glory seven-year-old soon went on again and came home five lengths clear of Lady Mags.

Sent off favourite, Dear Ryta ran well below expectations and pulled up before two out.

“She was working well at home and we were quietly confident, but a bit cautious taking on dual winners,” Kiely revealed.

“She is after completing two point-to-points now and has won them both, so it’s hard to knock her.

“I’ll talk to her owner Mark Walsh who is from Wexford, but she might go for the Gain Final.”

MIKE Kenneally registered his first point-to-point success when guiding Can Daddy Dance (3/1 – 4/1) to a narrow win in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden for novice riders.

Sir Ollie attracted plenty of support prior to this nine-runner heat and looked set to score when getting to the front after three out.

However, a mistake at the last didn’t help his cause and he was overhauled on the run-in by the persistent challenge of the Johnny Hurley-owned and trained victor, with just half-a-length between them at the line.

“I rode on the flat in England and had three winners there. My weight went wrong then and I went away from riding,” Kenneally, who is from Midleton, explained. “I’ve only come back recently, and things seem to be really working out. I ride out for Josh Halley, the Hurleys and Denis Ahern.”

The result of the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden was much more clear-cut, with Full Of Life (3/1 - 5/4 favourite) impressively dismissing her 12 rivals for Kilmore, Co Wexford-based owner/trainer John Byrne.

The subject of strong market support, the €10,000 Arqana yearling was never far from the pace and jumped well throughout under Jack Hendrick.

Sent to the front on the run to the second last, the Great Pretender bay soon asserted and came home eight lengths clear of fellow debutant Annacassar.

“She was working very well at home and would have won it easier on better ground,” Byrne, who was also successful with his only other runner this season, stated.

“She is gorgeous to ride, she is a good jumper and is very professional, she does everything right.

“Hopefully she’ll go to the sales now.”

WITH Hewick parading in front of the large crowd in attendance earlier in the afternoon, the John ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained Getaway King (5/4 – evens favourite) was an appropriate winner of the concluding five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden, which was named in memory of the late Maureen Mullins.

An encouraging third for Ellmarie Holden at Dromahane in November, the six-year-old was subsequently purchased by current connections for £23,000 at Goffs Doncaster.

Always towards the head of affairs, the Rob James-ridden victor had a protracted tussle with Carrickfergus in the straight, and needed to be ridden out on the run-in to see off that rival by a length-and-a-quarter.

Hanlon, who also saddled the third Hold Your Ground, later remarked: “The owners are new to the yard [the Freebooter Syndicate] and I liked him at home but he is still very green.

“I’d say he will go for the two and a half-mile bumper at Cork on Easter Monday now.”

David Mullins and his sister, Katie, were later on hand to present winning connections with their prize.

Horse to Follow

Quantum Quest (M. E. Doyle): Sent to the front a long way from home, this Idaho bay couldn’t sustain his effort and eventually finished third.

Headed after the second last, he didn’t go down without a fight and finished less than three lengths off the winner. He may benefit from more patient tactics going forward.