THE flat season has become accustomed to father and son training operations coming to the fore in recent times and it was a similar story at Portrush as Colin McKeever saddled Gortmillish to take the opening four-year-old maiden winner before his son Graham followed up half an hour later with Brayhill in the five-year-old maiden.

Not unlike the O’Brien family, Graham’s winner was trained last season by Colin who recommended the change of scenery which has worked out well for all parties.

The opening four-year-old maiden proved to be a very informative race featuring placed horses from five of the maidens that have already been run this season, and it was two of these, Gortmillish, a son of Sinndar who had been second at Monksgrange on his debut, and the Oldcastle runner-up Garde Des Champs who fought out a thrilling finish.

Derek O’Connor and Jamie Codd battles to the last have become something of a rarity in recent times and for this reason are to be appreciated with the old guard of McKeever, Dennison and O’Connor ultimately taking the spoils with Gortmillish.

Stepping in

While this combination were once regulars in the north, the Galway man was only stepping in for stable rider Stephen Connor who injured his shoulder in a schooling all earlier in the week.

McKeever confirmed after the race that this winner would now be sold and is a brother to the Willie Mullins-trained eight-time winner Robin De Carlow.

McKeever’s son Graham went on to win the following five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Brayhill, a horse that he bought from Wilson Dennison on his advice at the Goffs UK Summer Sale in July for £4,500.

Pulling clear alongside Vaucelet, a former Liz Doyle-trained hurdler making his stable debut for David Christie, it was Brayhill under Michael Sweeney, who forged a narrow margin close home to prevail by a head. McKeever noted that the Sholokhov gelding, who runs in his own colours, is for sale.

NARROWLY denied in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, David Christie went on to saddle two winners at the course which he has a close association with having grown up local to the track, and the yard where he began his training career is visible from the lorry park.

His Winged Leader set out with intent in the open under Barry O’Neill, and although headed for a period, he made much of the running.

Still only a six-year-old, this son of Winged Love got the better of the 2018 American National winner Jury Duty by six lengths.

Sporting the silks of local hotelier John Hegarty, this was a seventh success between the flags for the bay who also has a Down Royal hunter chase success to his name, and that looks to be a route he will be following in the immediate future.

The Fermanagh handler said: “He will most likely go to the Fairyhouse hunter chase next in early November and we would love to think he could go on to the Foxhunters and give a good account of himself there too this season.

“Given that he is still only six and his sire suggests he should really be coming into his own now, I think we have plenty to look forward to.”

It was Ask D’Man, a horse that was having his first start for Christie, who completed his double when running out an easy winner of the older geldings’ maiden.

This son of Ask, who had three previous runs for Paul O’Connell, including an eye-catching second to the now Outside The Ring made a brave bid to challenge this winner on the final circuit, four-time track winner Ask A Honey Bee at Ballynoe, was always in command.

Barry O’Neill always looked in control and came home four lengths clear of his nearest rival.

Christie said: “We had a plan to come here for some time as owner John Hegarty lives locally and it is nice to have horses running at this fixture.

“This horse has an engine and Barry told me he will relax more in his races and improve even more for this, so I think we can have plenty of fun with him once he stays right.”

SAM Curling sent Templebredin north for the second week in succession having finished second in an open to Mount Colah at Moira just a week earlier.

Dropping back to this winner-of-three contest provided effective as he got the better of another three-time winner, Lough Derg Lyric, with the recent Castletown scorer Handy Headon back in third.

Guided to success by Pa King, the winner runs in the colours of Mary Teresa O’Brien and has won four and finished second four times from nine starts for the Tipperary handler, who said: “He will run at Fairyhouse in early November in a maiden hunter chase.

“This should tell us where he fits in and given how well he jumps he could well go down the banks route in time also.”

Stuart Crawford provided brother Ben with a winner in the mares’ maiden where only a length separated Well Briefed from nearest challenger Oldtown Annie.

The winner is part-owned by veterinary surgeon Louis Hassett who managed to attend the meeting as the staff for Stuart Crawford.

He led up the mare and washed her down afterwards thus adhering to all protocols and furthermore allowing Crawford to leave an extra staff member at his yard to look after those riding out.

Crawford stated: “I thought she would do that in Kirkistown as I have always liked her but she never quite got into the race. She shows plenty and I think she is a very nice mare.”

Horse to follow

Oldtown Annie (J.J. Gault): This Windsor Knot mare was a promising third at Turtulla back in the spring before finishing a close second here on her seasonal return. She could be hard to beat next time.