THERE was some competitive fare at Sunday’s Dromahane meeting, run under the auspices of the Muskerry Foxhounds, and Watch House Cross hinted that he holds a very bright future by providing handler Sean Doyle with the opening leg of a two-timer in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

On an afternoon that saw the organising committee produce pristine ground conditions, the recent Fairyhouse runner-up Watch House Cross set off in front with Barry O’Neill and he jumped impeccably throughout.

While possibly giving his supporters a small scare by leaping over the road crossing after the fourth fence, the son of Libertarian was always in a lovely rhythm though his closest pursuer Rodaniche was only a length adrift when falling at the third last of the 14 obstacles.

The eventual winner, who looks like he could develop into a real chasing type, was clearly travelling best on the approach to two out and he duly beat newcomer Garcon Dargent by five lengths.

Crypto Currency meanwhile posted a promising debut effort by returning a further seven lengths adrift in third spot.

“He’s a big horse that jumps and gallops. He just may have been a bit green in Fairyhouse,” said Doyle of the Monbeg Partnership-owned Watch House Cross, an early March foal from the same family as Doran’s Pride that was bought by Rob James for €30,000 at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland May Sale that actually took place in August.

Doyle completed his brace when Mortlach, a former dual bumper runner-up during the 2019/20 season when under the care of Paul Nicholls, showed his appreciation for the nice underfoot surface in the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, providing 20-year-old Robbie Jackson from Kiltegan in Co Wicklow with a third career success.

Mortlach, beaten 15 lengths into second spot by subsequent British track winner Pay The Piper on his points debut on a testing under foot surface at Tinahely last autumn, was always quite well positioned and he took command from two out to dismiss another former track performer in Elusive Exclusive by three lengths in the Monbeg Partnership silks.

“He’s a horse that came to me for a break after he ran on the track and then he didn’t go back to the UK after that,” reported Doyle of Mortlach, a €48,000 graduate of the 2018 Derby Sale that should now slot in over hurdles.

Handler Doyle’s younger brother Donnchadh likewise kept his supporters happy as he was on the mark with newcomer Old Painless in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the afternoon with 15 runners.

Old Painless, a son of Imperial Monarch, deserves particular credit for winning as he was actually last of the 12 remaining runners after five out.

James Walsh, to his credit, remained unperturbed aboard the Monbeg Syndicate-owned bay and he brought the grandson of the seven-time track winning mare Goose Island through to lead before two out.

Old Painless was well in command on the approach to the last and he duly defeated the towering first-timer Robin De Fox by a comprehensive six lengths. Old Painless is likely to be seen in new colours when running again.

DENIS Murphy matched the achievements of fellow Co Wexford handler Sean Doyle by likewise saddling two winners and the Blackwater-based handler opened his account courtesy of the grey newcomer Happy D’ex in the four-year-old mares’ maiden, a race that sadly attracted just three runners.

The Saddler Maker-sired Happy D’ex, the pick of the paddock beforehand, made her way through to dispute after four out and she then took command before the penultimate obstacle to account for last month’s Cork runner-up Harry’s Hottie by an increasing 15 lengths.

“She has always been doing things very nicely and she will be a lovely mare next winter,” said owner/trainer Murphy of Happy D’ex, a €57,000 acquisition at last year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale that’s a close relation to the 2019 Goffs Land Rover bumper winner Festival D’ex.

It was Happy D’ex’s rider Luke Murphy that also partnered the Ballyboy Stables proprietor’s remaining winner Sharp Shadow in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

The newcomer Sharp Shadow, a daughter of Fame And Glory and a half-sister to one-time 130-rated chaser Poormans Hill, readily made her way to the front before two out to dismiss Marie Harding’s Holly Hartingo by three-parts of a length in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

This was most commendably the stylish Luke Murphy’s 50th career winner in points and the 24-year-old is without doubt a rider that we are going to be hearing a lot more about over the coming years.

THE Terence Leonard-trained 12-year-old Ajijic ended a three-year barren spell by booking his passage for this past Thursday’s maiden hunter chase at Tipperary by returning to the coveted number one slot under former southern regional champion Mikey O’Connor in the winner-of-two contest.

Ajicic, owned and bred by medical professional Gerard Crosse from Co. Limerick, disputed the running virtually throughout on the outer and he held a slight advantage over the mare Kind Witness when faster in the air over two out.

The triumphant veteran was always in command thereafter and he duly defeated Kind Witness, to whom he was conceding 10lbs to, by one and a half lengths with the pair returning four lengths clear of the third-placed Broomfield Kan.

Leonard, himself a former amateur rider, presently has four horses in harness at his base outside Newcastle West.

Horse To Follow

Sullivan’s Brow (C. Bowe): This son of Flemensfirth made his debut in a most competitive six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden. He finished third to two smart former track types and he should make his presence felt in future.