THE Route hunt returned to Portrush in 2016, and the locals appear to have embraced this scenic venue as it remains one of the best-supported meetings in the region irrespective of whether the fixture is autumn or spring, with a good crowd present to witness Wilson Dennison, one of two sponsors on the card to visit the winner’s enclosure when his Ballyhigh (3/1 - 7/4 favourite) impressed in the four-year-old maiden.
Well supported in the market, the Noel McParlan-ridden son of Canford Cliffs quickened up smartly past Boolamore Glory to win impressively and looks a sharp recruit for handler Jamie Sloan.
This was only the second son of Canford Cliffs to contest a point. The previous runner, Northern Beau, was a dual winner, ensuring the record of the former Richard Hannon-trained Irish 2000 Guineas winner remains perfect.
The winning owner and sponsor noted that he had bought this fellow from Eddie Fitzpatrick as he liked the model so much and couldn’t leave him behind. He pointed out that his dam had run in bumpers, and he was also related to point-to-point winners on the dam side and would now be sold.
Christie double
David Christie covers many miles each weekend, but this is one of his more local meetings and very close to where he began training many years ago and he enjoyed a double on the card courtesy of Vaucelet and Ask D’Man, who both impressed on their seasonal return.
The former had finished a very close second here in 2020 while the latter passed the post in front before a subsequent disqualification, so he will have been relieved to get both into the winner’s enclosure at this year’s fixture.
Vaucelet (1/2 - 1/3 favourite) picked up two hunter chase wins at the end of last season at Down Royal and Stratford respectively, and was therefore sent off a short-priced favourite in this three-runner open.
Barry O’Neill made all the running here for the smoothest of victories, and Christie noted afterwards that Cheltenham would be the aim for this former Liz Doyle-trained hurdler who is still only a six-year-old.
“He wants nice ground, so I will work backwards from Cheltenham in March and ensure he encounters those conditions wherever he goes,” said Christie.
“He has stayed three miles, four furlongs at Stratford, so stamina won’t be an issue, and I’m pleased he has started back on such a good note there today.”
Ask D’Man (4/7 - 4/5 favourite) followed up for Christie and owner John Hegarty in the winner-of-three contest which was sponsored by Hegerty’s local hotel.
Although only three went to post here, William Tyndale, who had the benefit of a run this season, made it a very entertaining battle to watch for quite some way before Ask D’Man began to assert before the last to the delight of connections.
Well known Order of Malta ambulance volunteers in the region Goretti Donnelly & Briege Beattie stood in with winning connections as their uncle James Conroy, from Altamuskin near Omagh, was the winning breeder of this son of Ask.
DECLAN Lavery record a double on the card beginning in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard Glebe Road (5/2 - 2/1) for Paddy Turley.
Katesbridge had gone to the front here before the Brian Hamilton-trained gelding exited in the home straight, leaving the former 112-rated hurdler Rockhamtom with the lead, but Lavery was beginning to close on his son of Fame And Glory and ultimately got the verdict by half a length.
“My horses were not right this year, so this fellow can be excused a disappointing bumper outing. That was a much better indicator of what he is capable of there, and he will now be sold,” said Turley of the bay that is owned by his wife Mary Kelly. The handler’s stable has turned a corner, as highlighted by That’s Just Dandy on the flat at Dundalk earlier in the month.
Lavery then combined with Drumlee Castle (5/1 - 6/1) to provide owner/handler Gary Dillon with his debut success in the concluding older maiden. Formerly trained by Sean McParlan, this son of Robin Des Champs had previous placed form but found his opportunity here, scoring by three lengths.
The winning owner/handler was accompanied by his son Oisin and noted that he has always had an interest in racehorses but only has one in training, which he trains alongside his dry-lining business, that operates from Ballymoney.
THE McGill brothers are emerging with some force on the northern circuit this season, and with younger brother Dara among the winners a week earlier at Moira, it was the turn of Oran to visit the winner’s enclosure aboard Justwest (2/1 - 4/1) in the mares’ maiden for his father Gary.
Her two-length success coming in a race where all five runners had credible placed form to their names, and the daughter of Westerner, who had finished just four lengths behind Kates Hill at Kirkistown, proved too good for the experienced Any Time.
“She has done well to handle the good ground as I believe that she will be a better mare on a softer surface so we will keep her going for the winter,” said the Maghera-based handler of this first winner for owners Edward & Patrick Kearns, with a mares’ winners’ race likely the next port of call for Justwest.
Horse to follow
Katesbridge (B.R. Hamilton): This Sageburg gelding looked to be moving into a winning position when coming down with two fences to jump. He had seemed to be opening the gap to his challengers when departing and compensations should quickly follow.
In memory
A MINUTE’s silence was held before racing for Philip White, the master of the Route Hunt who had passed away since their last meeting, and for the well-known pointing enthusiast and Comber landowner Alex Murdoch.