THE Meath Foxhounds and Tara Harriers hosted their opening meet of the season at Tattersalls last Sunday.

The dry spell of weather leading up to the fixture resulted in good to yielding ground conditions. Colin Bowe and Bertie Finn celebrated a quick double, securing victories in both four-year-old contests with two impressive newcomers.

Eight four-year-old mares lined up for the opening contest of the day, with only one having previous experience. Mayo Shirocco (5/2 - 4/1), a debutante daughter of Shirocco, tracked the long-time leader for most of the race.

She demonstrated great professionalism in both the way she travelled and jumped, catching the eye on the run to the final obstacle. She asserted her dominance from the back of the last, to pull away convincingly and win by three lengths, finishing ahead of runner-up Jetty May.

The winning handler commented of the Alberta Capital Ltd mare: “We don’t have her that long, but she’s as game as a pebble. Bertie says she’s a massive engine, so I’m excited for her future.”

Quick double

The Bowe-Finn duo brought up a quick double sending out newcomer Etna Bianco (5/2 - 5/1), a son of Jukebox Jury, to win the four-year-old geldings’ contest.

Nine geldings lined up, with all but two having previous experience. This victor belied his inexperience to kick on from the back of four-out, as he travelled notably well into the business end of this contest, before showcasing a likeable turn of foot on the flat, pulling away to fend off all challengers while posting the fastest time of the day in the colours of Benjamin Halsall.

Denis Murphy’s The Big Clubman fared best of the rest, a length and a half in arrears of the impressive winner.

The in-form Ross O’Sullivan unveiled newcomer Thetownilovedsowell (3/1 - 5/1) in the colours of John Murphy to claim the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, the second winner of the day for sire Shirocco.

This €16,000 foal purchase made steady progress from four out, taking the lead just after the final obstacle.

Dominance

He asserted his dominance all the way to the line, winning by four lengths over the more experienced D Journey Man. A well-related individual, he is out of a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Harbour Pilot.

“His sister Alfie’s Princess won first time out for us and went to Cheltenham sales - she went on to do very well for Sam Thomas,” O’Sullivan said.

“This lad had a little delay last spring, he pulled a muscle and he’s a big horse so took a bit of time, but he’s done it very well. His work was very good and he was showing a lot at home. He looks like a nice horse and he’ll go to the sale potentially.

“I was very happy with him the last few weeks and Lee gave him a brilliant ride, he travelled very easy into it and jumped with ease.”

THE William Murphy-owned and trained Elsa Bay (1/2 - 1/1 favourite) finally got off the mark on her fifth start in the point field.

With several placed efforts to her name, including a respectable fourth in the mares’ point-to-point bumper at Tipperary behind Jasmine D’airy in May, she tracked the leaders throughout the race.

In the straight, she made a convincing move to secure victory by half a length over Sights Unseen.

This well-deserved win was anticipated by her handler, who commented: “I always knew that performance was in her, she’s a grand honest mare who jumps very well. There’s probably a bit of improvement in her from that, as we haven’t galloped on grass. She will head to a winners’ contest next.”

The final contest of the day was for horses that had run at least twice in point-to-points without ever being placed in the first four.

The Donnchadh Doyle-trained Atomic Level (2/1 joint-favourite) got off the mark on the third time of asking.

The conditions of this race suited to allow him to step forward, as he picked-up leader Monrocco Moonlight on the run to the final obstacle to assert and score by five lengths.

By Diamond Boy, this gelding, owned by the Monbeg Syndicate, is well-related to several track performers and could progress for this performance.

WINGED Leader (4/7 favourite) continued his rich vein of form to justify favouritisim in the novice riders’ open. The John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane-owned 10-year-old gelding has been in unstoppable form of late with this latest win his 11th consecutive victory since February.

Ridden by Josh Williamson, he was always on the pace, and he upped the tempo down to the penultimate fence, where he put in the most spectacular leap to assert his superiority into the straight to beat a game Arverne by four lengths.

This latest win brings his career total to 24 wins in the pointing sphere, along with four track successes. A delighted Christie stated: “I’m delighted, I worry every time he goes out now. The ground is good - I wouldn’t want it any quicker despite him being a horse that can handle quicker ground.

“He jumped superb, and Josh gave him a brilliant ride doing exactly what he was told. When he came across the bottom to the third and second last, I thought his jumping was just phenomenal and he really put it to bed.

“Even Josh said when the other horse [Arvene] was at him, he thought he may have been under pressure and he gave him a kick in the belly and he came alive.”

Escort’kheops (C. Abernethy): This son of Masterstroke made some jumping errors but warmed to his task. Coming from off the pace, the €22,000 Arqana two-year-old purchase, caught the eye on the run to the last, staying on resolutely. He will be one to watch.