THERE was some outstanding fare at Saturday’s Boulta meeting and, on an afternoon that witnessed seven races and 64 runners at the West Waterford Foxhounds fixture, the Jimmy Kelly-trained Dul Ar Aghaidh indicated that she’s set for a fruitful campaign by recording a bloodless front-running success on her return in the mares’ open.

Dul Ar Aghaidh (2/1), who also destroyed the opposition by making all in a mares’ maiden at this same fixture last November, was bounced out at the head of affairs by James Hannon and she soon established a commanding advantage over her four rivals.

In truth, the six-year-old never looked like relinquishing her huge lead and there was only going to be one outcome from after the third last of the 14 obstacles.

At the post, The Gifted Syndicate-owned bay had 15 lengths to spare over former hurdles winner Little Token with Maid On The Moon a further 13 lengths adrift in third.

“That was a great performance and it’s nice to win like that at a local meeting here in Boulta,” reported handler Kelly of Dul Ar Aghaidh.

“She will now probably go for the maiden hunters chase at Limerick over Christmas.”

Local supporters

Brian Dunleavy, who hails from nearby Dungourney, kept his many local supporters happy by landing the four-year-old mares’ maiden aboard newcomer Mountain Molly (4/1 - 6/1).

An initial winner of the campaign for handler Ellen Doyle, Mountain Molly was always positioned close to the pace as Neon Lights and Mobile Mamma took the 10 runners along.

Walkadina went for home at the second last, but the winning daughter of Mount Nelson moved closer approaching the final fence and she took command in the closing stages to eclipse recent Dromahane runner-up Neon Diamond by a head in what was the day’s closest finish.

Walkadina meanwhile shaped most encouragingly by securing the minor honours, a further two lengths adrift.

“We’ve always been happy with her and Brian [Dunleavy] gave her a great ride,” remarked Ms Doyle of the Baltimore Stables Syndicate’s Mountain Molly, a €16,000 Derby sale graduate that’s a half-sister to Lucinda Russell’s dual hurdles winner De Legislator from the immediate family as Sir OJ.

Newcomer

Finbarr Cowman celebrated his first winner as a handler when newcomer Eaton Anne (3/1 - 4/1) came from off the pace with Johnny Barry to capture an eventful renewal of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Golden Lariat-sired Eaton Anne, whom Cowman shares with fellow Tramore native Des Colbert, was noted making nice progress from mid-division after three out.

Aclass still held the call when unseating on the flat after the second last as Eaton Anne struck the front 100 yards out to beat favourite Lord Desart by a length with a similar margin back to Bartlemy Boy in third.

“We bought him privately from his breeder Fintan Farrell in Co Westmeath and he’ll probably be sold now,” said Cowman of Eaton Anne, a half-brother to two track winners including four-time scorer Gates Of Rome.

TERENCE O’Brien seems to have an outstanding prospect in newcomer Belliano (4/1 - 5/1), who readily put his rivals to the sword in the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The favourite Presenting Max still held a marginal advantage when exiting three out, and four horses were then in the mix on the long run to the penultimate obstacle.

Belliano came through to lead with Darragh Allen at this second-last fence and he stretched clear in visually-taking fashion before the last to see off fellow debutant St Olan’s Well by a widening six lengths.

“He’s a horse that just needed some time as he was a bit weak in the spring,” said owner/trainer O’Brien of the Black Sam Bellamy-sired Belliano, a €25,000 Derby sale acquisition who is a brother to five track winners and whose dam Miliana [by Polar Falcon] was a Group 3 winner at Saint-Cloud. “I’ve always liked him and he’ll now go to some of the sales.”

Handler Jonathan Fogarty was credited with yet another four-year-old winner as Mulinas (2/1 - 3/1) made a victorious career debut under Barry Stone in the first division of this same race.

The Gaynestown Stud Partnership-owned Mulinas, a three-parts brother to listed bumper-placed performer Malinas Jack, assumed command before the last to account for patiently-ridden newcomer Potters Charm by three lengths.

In handler Fogarty’s absence, his brother Mikey reported: “This fellow is a nice horse that’s by a good sire [Malinas] and we were hoping that he would have a squeak. We had a few horses that have already won this season and they were all bringing each other along nicely at home.”

DECLAN Queally has experienced a phenomenal time since reverting to riding in points in October and he maintained his 100% strike-rate between the flags this autumn by posting his fifth success of the campaign aboard his father and namesake’s Don’t Matter Now (1/1 - 4/5 favourite) in the winners’ of one.

The recent Damma House maiden victor Don’t Matter Now hit the front two out and, with his closest pursuer Ballinrea blundering at the last, the ex-hurdler fought off Don Browne’s West Of Carrig by a length.

The younger Queally intimated that Don’t Matter Now, representing the Hoping For The Best Syndicate, will return to Boulta on Sunday, December 10th.

Derek O’Connor rarely leaves this venue empty-handed and the former multiple champion landed the five-year-old and upwards maiden aboard Sam Curling’s Miners Bridge (1/1 – 4/5 favourite).

Owned by Liam Cleary, Miners Bridge went one better than he did on his return behind Beau’s Candle at Lisronagh on November 4th by leading or disputing virtually throughout.

With his closest pursuers Fox Hardaway and Sense The Tension departing two out, Miners Bridge crossed the line with two and a half lengths to spare over the mare Electric Dreamer. A winners’ race will now feature for Miners Bridge.

Bartlemy Boy (M. Barry): A close relation to Jamie Snowden’s Cheltenham Festival winning mare You Wear It Well, this physically-imposing son of Pether’s Moon made an excellent career debut in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden by coming third to Eaton Anne. He was only beaten two lengths and appears well up to track standard.