CAPPOQUIN, Co Waterford-amateur Mikey Sweeney was the only rider to partner two winners at last Sunday’s well-attended North Tipperary Foxhounds fixture held on the lands of Peter McCutcheon just outside Nenagh.

On an afternoon that saw a delay to proceedings owing to a lack of veterinary cover, Sweeney initiated his double in the winners’ of one as Prophet’s Corner (4/1 - 6/1) maintained the excellent strike-rate this term of Araglen, Co Cork owner-trainer Seán Allen.

Dominating up-front from flag fall, the recent Bellharbour runner-up Prophet’s Corner only had the Turlough O’Connor-ridden Nibbles for company after three out.

Mastering the challenge of that rival shortly after, the Westerner gelding readily made light of the testing conditions to oblige by a widening 24 lengths.

“It’s great to get that as he’d been running well without winning recently. He handles heavy ground better than most so we’ll potter away with him in winners’ races over the next few weeks,” outlined Allen of his seven-year-old.

Doubled up

Moving on to the eight-winner mark for the season, Sweeney later doubled up aboard the Pat Crowley-handled second-timer Maryollie (3/1 - 5/1) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Prominent early as Cappacurry Croi and Taketwotoone vied for the lead, last month’s Carrigarostig fourth, Maryollie, led from halfway, and having overcame a third-last fence mistake, finished her race out to excellent effect late-on to account for Angels Halo by a widening 32 lengths.

“This mare had a lovely run first time out in awful conditions. That run left her spot on and she’s a lovely honest type who did it very well today. She has a good pedigree behind her too and will probably be sold now,” reflected Crowley of Maryollie who sports the silks of Aglish, Co Waterford dairy-farmer Liam Fenton.

Winning return

Having been sidelined through injury, multiple champion lady rider Maxine O’Sullivan made a winning return to action aboard Tracey Gilmour’s Come To Me (4/6 - evens joint-favourite) in the three-runner ladies’ open.

Showing the benefit of his seasonal debut at Cragmore last month, the former dual track scorer came from some way adrift of the front-running Glentruan in the latter stages to head Hannah Phillips’ mount before the final obstacle and ultimately finished alone as Glentruan pulled up before the final fence.

“He’s a wonderful horse to have around the place at home. He’s actually the only point-to-pointer I have at the minute, it’s mostly younger horses I have now. He’ll come on again from that today and will go for another open next,” commented Gilmour.

HAVING saddled the runner-up in a similar contest at Oldtown the previous afternoon, handler Pat Doyle was on the mark courtesy of Big Cadillac (4/6 - evens favourite) in the opening four-year-old maiden.

Due to come under the hammer at yesterday’s Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale, the physically-imposing relation to blacktype performers Abolitionist and Askanna, was edged into the lead by Pa King at the third from home and, in spite of blundering at the final obstacle, was always in control to repel the staying-on King Of Thieves by two and a half lengths.

With handler Doyle absent, his son and assistant Jack, observed: “This is a big, raw horse that we think has the makings of a proper one.

Come easy

“With his size, we weren’t sure if we would get to run him at all this spring, but everything has always come so easy to him, we said we’d take a chance and thankfully it paid off.”

Out of luck with King Of Thieves, the father and son combination of Liam and James Kenny enjoyed better fortune in the proceeding five-year-old geldings’ maiden as Saint Malinas (4/1 - 6/1), one of two debutants in the six-runner contest, sprang a mild surprise.

James Kenny sent the €10,000 2022 Tattersalls Ireland July Sale acquisition to the front early and the Sam Curling-handled Jeannot Lapin looked his main threat racing into the home straight for the final time.

However, Saint Malinas, who hails from the extended family of French blacktype performer Aconit, dug deep late-on and ultimately defeated Simply The Bestone by two and a half lengths.

Saint Malinas was also quickly added to the catalogue for yesterday’s Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale.

CASTLETOWNROCHE, Co Cork-owner John O’Meara bridged a gap of 14 years between winners as the Eamonn Gallagher-trained God Help Us (4/1 - 6/1) carried his colours to victory in the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

In a steadily run contest, which saw plenty of the nine runners holding a chance near three out, Johnny Hurley conjured a fine late effort from the Watar eight-year-old to get on top just before the last and outpoint Walk Easy by four and a half lengths.

“All the credit for this horse has to go to Johnny Hurley’s uncle Martin. He had him for the track and he was placed in two maiden hurdles for him. It’s lovely to get a winner for John and I know the horse well as I broke him for John. We will look for a winners’ race or possibly even a maiden hunter chase for him now,” said Gallagher.

King Of Thieves (L. Kenny): This Flemensfirth-gelding who traces back to graded scorers Junior and Davids Charm, emerges with plenty of credit having occupied the runner-up berth in the four-year-old maiden.

Keeping on very well behind Big Cadillac, the bay looks sure to come on plenty for the experience and should easily develop into a winning track performer in due course.

AN enjoyable afternoon at a dry Lisboney drew to a close with the fourth-running of the North Tipperary Foxhounds Junior Members Race run for the Brianna Lynch Memorial Cup.

A field of 18 went to post here with Lucas Neville passing the past first aboard his horse from Abigail Byrne who partnered the first pony home.