THE Co Clare Hunt’s Easter Sunday fixture in Quakerstown is one of the highlights of the point-to-point calendar and last weekend’s meeting lived up to its billing with an excellent atmosphere amongst the fine crowd in attendance coupled with high-quality action on track.

The Padraig Roche-handled Drumcliff (3/1 - 2/1) was the star turn at the Burrenside venue when making a successful points debut in the ladies’ open under Aine O’Connor.

In a race which only ever concerned the J.P. McManus-owned winner and fellow market principal Woodbrook Boy, the former Harry Fry-handled Drumcliff took the measure of Cara McGoldrick’s mount on the swing into the straight for the final time before going on to score by two and a half-lengths.

“He’s always been a really nice horse. He hadn’t run for a while so I was fairly conscious of his fitness today.”

“I’d say Padraig would be thinking of the hunter chase route for him now with maybe another run in an open before then,” reported O’Connor who had incidentally partnered the once 142-rated 12-year-old to a pair of track victories in the UK.

Having claimed the corresponding contest staged at the Co Clare’s Bellharbour fixture in February, the local duo of handler John Staunton and rider Eoin Mahon once again combined to collect the four-year-old maiden through second-timer Slieve Carran (3/1 - 4/1).

Assumed command

Sporting the silks of Kilmaley, Co Clare owner Anne McMahon, the son of Affinisea was in the slip stream of the duelling Joystick and Jeu Des Champs running towards the final fence and with that pair both less than fluent at the last, Slieve Carran quickly assumed command on the flat to oblige by five lengths.

“This is a real genuine, honest type of horse. He would have been an easier winner if he hadn’t run short of room turning into the straight. Eoin was very impressed with the way he picked up when he got light after the last,” stated Staunton of his €9,000 Goffs Land Rover Sale acquisition.

Fethard, Co Tipperary-based owner and trainer Roisin Hickey was on the mark in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden as Champagne Twist (7/2 - 5/1) obliged at the third time of asking.

Attentions

Given the office by Brian Lawless on touching down at the penultimate obstacle, the Shantou gelding had seen off the attentions of Getagin when that rival fell at the last, leaving last month’s Castlelands third Champagne Twist to come home at his ease, 12 lengths ahead of Bennettsbridge.

“This is only a frame of a horse that we hold in fierce high regard. He’s raw and only filling out into himself now so there’s plenty more to come from him. He’ll be sold now,” remarked Hickey’s husband Thomond O’Mara.

LOCAL rider Derek O’Connor kept his loyal band of supporters happy by partnering a double on the afternoon which was initiated by the triumph of the Sam Curling-handled Susie Styler (7/2 - 5/2) in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

In the process of posting an encouraging debut effort only to fall three out in Ballyragget, the daughter of Milan was always in the front rank under O’Connor and having led shortly before the last found plenty late-on to contain Glendaars Fortune by a diminishing head in what was the closest finish of the day.

“This is a filly we’ve always liked a lot. Pa [King] felt she was going really well when she fell last time. She never missed a beat today and will improve plenty as she’s still immature,” outlined Curling of Seamus Dunne’s relative to both Threeunderthrufive and Bordini.

Tubber-born O’Connor later combined with his handler brother Paurick to claim the closing confined maiden through Brave Starlight (5/2 - 9/4 favourite).

Stylishly

The Tom Howley-owned six-year-old who had been a fine third in a Lisronagh maiden in November, travelledstylishly on the wide outside throughout and led on the approach to the last obstacle on his way to a cosy two and a half-length success over long-time leader Forging Steel.

“I’m delighted for Tom [Howley] as he’s been a big supporter of the yard and has been with me for many years. The horse is improving all the time and will go for a winners’ race now,” commented victorious handler Paurick O’Connor.

“It’s always special to get a winner here. The committee do an amazing job and it’s wonderful to see such a big crowd here again today.”

FOUR horse handler David Barry, located in Rathcormac, Co. Cork, sent out Blackwater Soldier (3/1 - 4/1) to collect the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden on his second career start.

Having led until the eighth fence under the in-form Johnny Barry, the Soldier Of Fortune gelding gave chase as Barton Snow made the best of his way home after the second last.

However, Moira McElligott’s mount blundered badly at the final fence allowing Blackwater Solider, owned and bred by his handler’s fellow parishioner Pat Culloty, to regain the initiative early on the short run-in and account for Barton Snow by three lengths.

“This horse has taken a bit of time but he showed what he’s capable of there today. Johnny gave him a peach of a ride and kept things very simple on him. Today was the plan really and it’s great to get it,” said trainer Barry.

Big Girl Betty (M.M. McNiff): This debutante by Getaway caught the eye when doing some good late work to finish a never-nearer third behind Susie Styler in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden. She should have little difficulty in opening her account before the end of the season.