THERE was some stellar fare at Sunday’s Bandon meeting, staged under the auspices of the Carbery Foxhounds at its long-standing Kilpatrick venue, and Rookery Woods hinted that a bright career lies in wait as he recorded a bloodless debut success under his handler Mikey O’Connor in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Johnny Dogs took up the running on the approach to the sixth last of the 14 obstacles in this 10-runner contest and he then led until The Big Breac made his way to the front after four out. The patiently-ridden winner moved ever closer on the run to two out and he could be called the most likely winner once easing into third spot after this penultimate obstacle. Rookery Woods (6/1) stylishly assumed command on the run to the last and he duly bounded clear in the closing stages to dispense with Dunworley by four and a half lengths in the colours of owner/breeder Liam Sheahan from Gortnatona Stud outside Killarney.

“He’s a very nice horse and he will now go for a winners’ race, but I think that he will win a bumper on good ground,” said O’Connor of Rookery Woods, the initial horse that he has trained for Sheahan, son of the late Donie Sheahan. It’s worth recalling that Sheahan also stands Rookery Woods’ sire Vita Venturi at Gortnatona.

The Mikey Kennedy-trained Dundaniel (9/2), an own-brother to the aforementioned Dunworley, brought up the closing leg of a two-timer for five pounds claimer Alan O’Sullivan by easily landing a competitive renewal of the winners’ of one.

The previous Sunday’s Nenagh maiden victor Golden De Coeur set out with the intention of making all here, but he had no reply once the winning eight-year-old swept past on the run to the final fence and Nice To Meet was soon in pursuit.

Dundaniel was however in a different league to his rivals as he asserted on the flat to put eight lengths between himself and Nice To Meet with Golden De Coeur securing the minor honours, a similar margin adrift.

This was an extremely poignant success as Dundaniel is owned by the Executors of the late Pat O’Driscoll, this meeting’s landowner who sadly died last September.

In the absence of handler Kennedy who was otherwise engaged at Lisronagh, the meeting’s Chairman Paddy McCarthy who is a close friend of the O’Driscoll family remarked: “Pat [O’Driscoll] must have been looking down on us today. It’s great that Dundaniel has won here and he will probably now go for another winners’ race.”

O’Sullivan, who is still just 18 years of age, got off the mark for the afternoon aboard his uncle Eugene O’Sullivan’s Dashing Perk (5/4) in the novice riders open.

The 12-year-old Dashing Perk, who chased home Chatham Street Lad at Ballindenisk on New Year’s Day, moved second behind the pacesetting War Call with four fences remaining and he took charge from well before the last to account for the pacesetter by eight lengths in the colours of his handler’s sister-in-law Irene Walsh.

Dashing Perk, a former dual track winner in Britain that actually started his career in Irish points with Shane Nolan, is now likely to contest another open.

Lovers Walks to victory for Higgins and Kellegher

GERRY Kelleher saddled the easiest winner of the afternoon in On Lovers Walk (2/1) who had little more than an exercise canter in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden, much to the dismay of the nine bookmakers present.

The recent Ballyvodock fourth On Lovers Walk, a half-brother to former Grade 1 British novice hurdle winner Captain Cutter, made smooth progress into second behind Imperial Fox from four out. The market leader assumed command with Ballymacoda native Darragh Higgins well after two out and he coasted clear on the approach to the final fence to put 20 lengths between himself and the mare Imperial Fox.

“If he’s not sold, he will go for a winners’ race and he should make a nice hunter chaser in time,” reported Macroom-based seven-horse handler Kelleher of On Lovers Walk, whom he trains for his nieces’ Abigail and Lucy Kelleher.

The Sam Curling-owned/trained newcomer Hidden History (9/4) made Pa King’s only mount of the afternoon a winning one by landing the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Schiaparelli-sired Hidden History was covered up as Attaboydylan took the five runners along at a sensible tempo from Kedg West.

The Skehanagh Stables inmate went to the head of affairs well before the last and it was all relatively plain sailing thereafter as he returned with two lengths to spare over the staying on I Ballyadam Moon.

Hidden History, a €13,000 acquisition at the 2021 Tattersalls Ireland May Sale, is out of an excellent dual-purpose mare in Bollin Judith (by Bollin Eric) who won nine races on the flat and over hurdles in Britain for initially Tim Easterby and then Jim Best.

Further spice is added by the fact that Bollin Judith’s great-grandam Klairlone finished third in an Irish 1000 Guineas.

Lilian Bland battles hard to take mares’ maiden

LILIAN BLAND (6/1) put her hurdling experience to good use by making a winning points debut in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, the race that provided the closest finish of the afternoon.

The hooded Lilian Bland, who finished fourth off a mark of 87 in a two mile one furlong Wexford handicap hurdle in May of last year, was sent straight to the front by James Hannon and the half-sister to Noah And The Ark was foot-perfect throughout.

She was in no mood to be denied from the last as she held on grimly to account for the closing Glendaars Fortune by a neck.

Lilian Bland is the only animal that owner/trainer Niall Hennessy has in harness at his Mellerary base outside Cappoquin.

Hennessy suggested that Lilian Bland, a foal purchase that would normally have been partnered by the suspended Mikey Sweeney, could now contest a winners’ race.

Horse to Follow

Glendaars Fortune (I. G. O’Connor): This daughter of Soldier Of Fortune was well supported on her debut in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. She closed as the line approached to get within a neck of the winner Lilian Bland and compensation should be easily attained.