THERE was a fabulous atmosphere at Sunday’s Kilworth & Araglen Harriers meeting at Knockanohill and the Garry Aherne-trained mare My Best Valentine continued her clear upward trajectory by landing a truly-run renewal of the winners’ of three in the hands of regular partner Stefan Tobin.

Previously successful at Ballindenisk and Cragmore in January before falling on her most recent start at Borris House on March 3rd, My Best Valentine (3/1 - 4/1) was sent through to lead at the fifth of the 15 obstacles and she was never headed thereafter.

Saffron Hill emerged as the six-year-old’s biggest danger on the run to the final fence, but he couldn’t make any meaningful impression on the flat as the Dan O’Brien-owned bay gamely asserted to beat him by two lengths.

Meanwhile, former bumper performer Ma Bess more than acquitted herself on her comeback outing by returning a similar margin adrift in third.

Tallow native Tobin, who rides out for both Sean Aherne and Pat O’Connor, reported of My Best Valentine who now appears to hold valid track pretensions: “She’s a brilliant mare that you have to take your time early doors on and she ground it out well.”

First success

Ellmarie Holden’s recent Lisronagh runner-up Shantou Princess (5/2 - 3/1) provided 20-year-old Maynooth native Billy Coonan, who won last August’s amateur riders’ Derby at Epsom aboard Belgoprince for Tony Martin, with an initial points success in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Araglen Star and Some Joy took the six runners along until Shantou Princess, who had to be rousted along from five out, made smooth progress from the second last to pick up the running approaching the final fence.

It was all relatively plain sailing thereafter as the winning daughter of Shantou stormed clear to dismiss former British hurdler Araglen Star by seven lengths.

Ms Holden reported of her mother Catherine’s Shantou Princess: “She was a bit green when she finished fourth on her first run at Turtulla in January. She has improved away since then and she’ll be a nice mare for someone going forward.”

Cal Shine needs just one more winner to shed his 5lb claiming allowance following his success aboard owner/trainer Eugene O’Sullivan’s Famous Liss (3/1 - 4/1) in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Jumping superbly

Famous Liss, who finished second on his return from a mid-season break at Kildorrery last month, was bounced out smartly at the head of affairs and he made most of the running jumping superbly in the process.

With two of his closest pursuers Bog Cross and Our Story exiting four out, the son of Famous Name was well in command from the second last. He was left to come home alone when his closest pursuer Keeptheoldmanout, who was held in second spot, was pulled up before the final fence.

“He’s for sale, but if I still have him, he will go for either the point-to-point bumper or the maiden hunters’ chase at Cork on Easter Monday,” disclosed O’Sullivan of Famous Liss, whom he purchased at the 2022 Goffs UK August sale in Doncaster.

THE large crowd were treated to a couple of particularly close finishes with Sean Doyle’s Parish Quiz (5/4 - 6/4 joint-favourite) stepping forward from his third-placed debut effort in a two and a half-mile Punchestown maiden last month to record a narrow success under Jamie Scallan in the four-year-old maiden.

The Monbeg Partnership-owned Parish Quiz, the only one of the four participants with previous experience, was always on the pace.

He led from four out only to be outjumped over the second last by Person Of Interest and then marginally overtaken.

Parish Quiz is clearly a doughty customer and he fought back to challenge approaching the final fence en-route to mastering Person Of Interest 50 yards out to oblige by a head with the pair being the only finishers.

The connections of the Snow Sky-sired Parish Quiz, an early May foal hailing from the same family as former Uttoxoter Midlands Gand National winner Firebird Flyer who was purchased for €10,000 at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland May sale, received a free nomination to Racinger who stands at Donal White’s nearby Foxwood Stud outside Castlelyons.

Dying strides

The following five-year-old geldings’ maiden was even more nail-biting as Michael Griffin’s well-supported newcomer Gamblergo (5/2 – 7/4 favourite) surged to the front in the dying strides to shade the verdict over Duce Bigalow, much to the consternation of the 11 bookmakers present.

Duce Bigalow set out to make all, except that he was frequently harried by a loose horse and then further misfortune befell Harley Dunne’s charge when his partner Frankie Murphy’s leather broke two out which meant that the Skibbereen teenager then had to ride the remainder of the race without irons.

Duce Bigalow had no more to offer inside the final 100 yards and Gamblergo surged past with Alan O’Sullivan as the line loomed to score by a head.

The Notcowcato-sired Gamblergo, whose dam is a half-sister to French listed jumps winners Otchoa Rouge and Red Name, represents Griffin’s wife Kay and the early June foal is now likely to be sold.

JAMES Hannon, while presently sidelined from raceriding as he recovers from a neck injury sustained in December, will forever treasure fond memories of the meeting as he was credited with a first training success of the season courtesy of Bigbraveboy (4/5 favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts’ maiden.

Bigbraveboy, who fell when leading at the final fence in the Knockanard contest won by Worth The Walk last month, made virtually all the running and the sound-jumping six-year-old appeared to have a battle on his plate when runner-up Holokea loomed up to hold every chance before two out. Holokea however was unable to raise his effort before the last as Bigbraveboy stayed on stoutly for James Murphy to triumph by an increasing seven lengths in the silks of Ray Fitzgerald. It’s probable that the towering Bigbraveboy will now contest a hunter chase.

Horse to Follow

Person Of Interest (C. Bowe): A graduate of the 2023 Goffs Arkle sale that traces back to Noel Meade’s Grade 1-winning chaser Harbour Pilot, this racy-looking newcomer by Walk In The Park went down fighting when beaten a head into second spot by Parish Quiz in the four-year-old maiden. The mid-April foal fits the profile of a sure track winner.