THE Golden Vale Foxhounds hosted the first of two meetings scheduled to take place at Turtulla this season, where wet and windy weather proved challenging for all concerned.

The Colin Bowe-trained Star Walking (5/2 - 3/1) already looks well named, with the Jukebox Jury bay impressively taking the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden on debut.

A half-sister to five-time track winner Dont Kick Nor Bite, the €26,000 Goffs Land Rover Sale purchase was given a patient ride by Bertie Finn, getting to the front after four out.

Briefly challenged approaching the second last, the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd-owned victor readily stretched clear before the final fence and came home 10 lengths to the good.

The well-supported Nastya was the only other finisher, with the remaining six contenders all pulled up.

“She jumped very well and was always travelling well. She was making her ground jumping and going down the back the last time I probably let her jumping do a bit of the talking,” Finn reflected.

“Even coming to the last she was big and bold over it. She is very good and is a tough mare, we’ve always liked her.”

No match

Finn and Bowe had to settle for second in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, with their Tantum Ergo proving no match for Lisleigh Lad (2/1) in this three-runner affair.

Owned by his Fermoy-based handler Eleanor Broderick, the Dansant bay made all under Darragh Allen and had his two rivals beaten from early in the straight, with 32 lengths the margin of victory.

Broderick also bred the facile victor with her partner Matt Slattery, and the latter commented: “He was unlucky a few times last season and deserved to win today. He has been working like a train at home.”

For the second week in a row, young Tipperary pilot Hannah Phillips took top honours with success in the concluding five-year-old and upwards maiden for handlers with ten winners or less coming courtesy of Wine An Dine (3/1 - 5/2)

Owned and trained by James Condon, the Leading Light six-year-old was previously in the care of Tom Keating and after nearly two years on the sidelines, he made his debut for current connections at Lisronagh last month.

Well-beaten on that occasion, the €31,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase clearly came on plenty for the run, and found another gear when ridden approaching the last, powering to the front on the run-in before going on to score by five lengths.

Out of a sister to the brilliant Cue Card, Goatenbridge-based Condon, who was on lead-up duties, indicated a winners’ contest is now on the agenda for the well-bred bay.

Wise winner leads the way

ANDY Slattery unleashed another smart prospect in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, with Will The Wise (5/1 - 7/2) impressing on debut under Adam Ryan.

Subsequent Grade 1 victor Shan Blue claimed this very race in 2018 when in the care of Slattery, with many talented individuals going through his Killenaule base over the years.

Settled in second, the Well Chosen chesnut was left in front four out and while pressed on either side approaching the penultimate obstacle, he went on again when ridden and came home six lengths to the good.

“We liked him coming here; he did all his work well at home,” Slattery revealed. “I think it’s a real sign of a good horse the way he jumps.

“He jumped from fence to fence and Adam said he always had loads of horse under him, even at the finish.

“He is owned by my farrier Dan Breen. He is from Dundrum and bred Marie’s Rock.”

Another Killenaule handler claimed the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, with recent Damma House runner-up Amyr (6/4 - 9/4 favourite) proving game from the front under Johnny Barry.

Every yard

Owned, trained and bred by Evanna McCutcheon, the Mahler six-year-old made every yard of the running and while pressed from two out, she responded well when ridden and had two lengths to spare at the line.

A mistake at the last could have proved costly for the bay victor, however nearest pursuer Cahirdown Lass was also far from fluent there, with her rider Adam Ryan losing his irons as a result.

“She is a great jumper, like her mother (Nhakira) was. She is a Mahler and they are honest,” McCutcheon remarked.

“We were a bit worried about the ground because she is not a winter mare. She might go for a winners’ race and could go for banks races.”

THE biggest field of the day lined up in the open for novice riders, with three-time track victor Ramillies (7/4 favourite) coming out on top in the colours of the Ramillies & Christie Family Syndicate.

Previously trained by Willie Mullins, the eight-year-old justified favouritism under Alan O’Sullivan, providing the young Mallow native with his second success of the weekend.

In front for much of this nine-runner contest, the David Christie-trained grey kept on well when shaken up in the straight, despite showing a tendency to jump left at times.

Gallant second

On his first start in the colours of Janet Williamson and ridden by her son Josh, Hardline finished a gallant second, four lengths off the winner.

“He is a work in progress really. We are just trying to find out a wee bit more about him all the time,” Christie divulged.

“I had a chat with Paul Townend at Down Royal and he told me how to ride him. I passed that on to Alan and he did it very well.

“I might run him in another open because he is such a laid-back horse. He will then go for the hunters chase at Down Royal at Christmas.”

Horse to Follow

Bigcitylights (C. Doyle): Sent off favourite, this well-regarded €35,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase gave Jack Hendrick no chance when making a bad mistake and unseating four fences from home. In front from flag fall, the imposing chestnut still held a narrow lead when exiting and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares on his next start.