ON what was a fine spring afternoon, the Bray Harriers hosted the fourth and final fixture of the season at Tinahely, with just 32 of the 89 entries taking up their engagement.

Fresh from a double at Oldtown the previous day, Jack Hendrick combined with Cormac Doyle to repeat the feat, with the pair striking first with impressive debutant The Jukebox Kid in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

A half-brother to Yeah Man, who won the Grand National Trial at Haydock less than 24 hours earlier, the €31,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale graduate came in for strong market support (7/4 - 4/5 favourite).

Settled in second, the Jukebox Jury bay got to the front before two out and quickly assumed command, coming home 16 lengths clear of recent Ballinaboola third Achille Des Rocs.

“I bought him on the strength of his half-brother. I bought him from Pat Fenlon, who I bought Yeah Man off as well,” Doyle revealed.

“We fancied him today and he is very similar to Yeah Man. He is a lovely, laidback horse who jumps very well. I’d say the future is bright for him and he’ll head to the sales now.”

Borna Gem (4/1 – 5/1) completed the Doyle, Hendrick brace in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, with this one also carrying the colours of the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership.

Despite making some mistakes on her way around, the Mount Nelson bay improved to dispute the lead after three out and hit the front before the next.

Fast pace

The fast early pace began to take its toll in the closing stages, with the winner eventually coming home two and a half lengths clear of the front-running Mahlers Dream.

Doyle, who registered his first winner of the season at Tallow the previous weekend said: “I don’t know what was wrong with the horses, but they were just scoping wrong and bloods were wrong.

“They are all back right now anyway. We have a good few of them left to come out and with a bit of luck we’ll have a few more winners.”

On Borna Gem, he added: “I think she is a half-sister to two horses who have picked up blacktype [Ferdia and Bonarc]. She will head to the sales now.”

First success

Almost seven years on from winning on debut at Loughbrickland, Plan Of Attack (7/2 - 3/1) provided Holly Dunne with a memorable first success in the four-runner open for novice riders.

The 21-year-old Portlaoise native has exclusively partnered the Ben Halsall- trained 11-year-old since starting her career in October.

Waited with towards the rear, the four-time track victor took closer order on the final circuit and got to the front before the second last, keeping on well from there to prevail by two and a half lengths.

“I have no background in horse racing and I’m full-time with Ben who is based in Ballylinan, Co Laois. His wife, Nathalie, owns this horse but neither of them are here today,” Dunne remarked.

DESPITE proving easy-to-back, Wise Move (6/4 - 9/4) continued his rise through the ranks as he comfortably accounted for his five rivals in the winners’ of two.

Now three from four since joining John O’Donovan, the six-year-old made all and jumped well throughout under Joanna Walton, coming home four lengths to the good.

O’Donovan, who also owns the Shirocco bay, was later represented by his son, Chris, who explained: “We bought him last summer from Eleanor Broderick and her partner Matt [Slattery] and they had a great job done with him.

“He has improved leaps and bounds and is a real little trooper of a horse.

“We might aim him at the bumper at Mallow on Easter Monday, but we might find another winners’ race for him first.”

Another field of six faced the starter in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, with Ocodango Boy (4/1 – 8/1) springing a surprise under Lee Shanahan.

Towards the rear in the early stages, the Peter McCreery-trained seven-year-old made gradual progress through the field and improved to dispute the lead approaching the penultimate fence.

Kept on well

Ridden before the last, the Matthew Cheevers-owned bay soon got to the front and kept on well in the closing stages to beat Creegh Native by a length, with the runner-up not helped by mistakes at the ninth and 10th.

“That’s my third winner. I’m based with Ross O’Sullivan and go down to Matty Flynn O’Connor one day a week as well,” Shanahan stated.

“I was tracking Barry [O’Neill on Creegh Native] everywhere. I jumped the second last upsides him and then went on before the last. He stayed galloping to the line and he is a good honest horse.”

A FIELD of four lined up in the opening four-year-old maiden, with Heroes Rise (3/1 - 5/2) coming out on top under James Walsh.

Bought for €7,000 at the Goffs Arkle Sale and out of a sister to Grade 1-placed Macs Valley, the John Paul Brennan-trained victor improved to dispute the lead on the approach to the last.

Soon left in front by the fall of Kir, the son of Sandmason went on to comfortably account for his two remaining rivals, with eight lengths the margin of victory.

“He quickened up well and James said he had Bowe’s one (Kir) covered,” Brennan, who trains the winner for his wife, Marie, commented.

“We thought a lot of this horse coming here. Electric Mason was second for us in this race last year and when we sold him, we said he’d win a bumper and he did.

“We did the same homework with this lad and he was just doing it way better. The one little issue I had was would he handle the ground but he did and it panned out lovely.”

Kilgibbon Bro (S. Slevin): The only newcomer in the concluding older geldings’ maiden, this son of El Salvador finished a fine third, going down by just two and a half lengths.

He didn’t get the clearest of runs in the closing stages and should come on plenty for this initial effort.