AWAY from Downpatrick, it has been a relatively quiet period both on the track and between the flags.

Not for the first time, David Christie did his bit for the region on the point-to-point scene when sending out Bold Enough and I See You Now to win the last two races at Castletown-Geoghegan on Sunday under Barry O’Neill.

First to strike in the three-runner open was Ray Nicholas’ eight-year-old Jeremy gelding, Bold Enough, who comfortably brought up a hat trick of open successes.

The concluding seven-strong older geldings’ maiden was won by Kieran Mahon and Noel Keenan’s I See You Now who, on his third career start – his first for his present connections – had finished a distant second in the winners’ race at Portrush the previous Saturday. This British-bred bay is by Telescope, sire also of the highly-regarded Christie-trained Ferns Lock.

South Carolina

The former northern point-to-pointer, The Hero Next Door, was one of three winners saddled by Leslie Young at the Carolina Cup Races in Camden, South Carolina, last Saturday.

The near black Jet Away gelding ran twice last season for Patrick Turley, finishing fourth behind Ballyburn first time out in a four-year-old geldings’ maiden at Loughanmore in October before winning his maiden at Kirkistown in November. On both occasions, he was ridden by Deckie Lavery.

Last Thursday week, Draperstown trainer Noel Kelly and Maghera amateur Dara McGill joined forces to win the Owners Insurance Included in AIRO Membership Handicap Hurdle at Naas with the 16/1 shot Herculaneum.

A first success over hurdles for the 19-year-old rider, this was also a first win for the six-year-old Australia gelding who now runs for the four-member Cill Iseal Syndicate which, to no surprise, is based in the townland of the same name (aka Killeeshil).

The preceding Treo Eile Rated Novice Hurdle was won by the Noel Meade-trained Nucky Johnson who only hit the front on the run-in but then went away to beat the longtime leader, and favourite, Doyen Ta Win by five and a half lengths.

The successful Vadamos gelding was partnered by Liam McKenna who was riding his sixth winner in Ireland this season and his first ever for Meade.

Across the water

Over jumps across the water, Brian Hughes recorded a double at Wetherby last Friday while Caoilin Quinn rode one winner at Stratford on Saturday and another at Fontwell on Tuesday.

On the flat, Patsy Cosgrave partnered his first winner since his return from the UAE when the David Evans-trained There’s The Door won the 10-furlong handicap at Doncaster on Sunday.

That three-year-old Starspangledbanner filly, who was recording her second career success, runs in the colours of Paul and Clare Rooney and was purchased for €80,000 on their behalf at the 2021 Autumn Yearling Sale at Goffs by Kevin Ross Bloodstock.

At that stage, There’s The Door, who is out of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Callisto Star, was catalogued as being a full-sister to Rhea Moon, who had been placed twice at two from two runs that year.

Then trained by Ken Condon, that 2019 filly was since sold to the USA where, from three starts in 2022, she won the Autumn Miss Stakes (Grade 3) and American Oaks (Grade 1), both races on the turf at Santa Anita for three-year-old fillies.

EASTER Sunday in 1993 was on April 11th with the East Antrim point-to-point at Loughanmore taking place six days later when the good to soft ground conditions obviously took their toll on runners as finishers were at a premium.

With a divide to the maiden there was a seven-race card but no rider managed to partner more than one winner.

The performance of the day came in the seven-runner open where the Tony Martin-ridden Joey Kelly took over from the longtime leader Jims Choice (John Bright) before the last and went clear to score by six lengths.

On Easter Monday, April 21st, 2003, there weren’t too many finishers either but 11 of the 17 starters did get home in the seven-year-old and upwards maiden won by Barney Radetzky.

Alan Steele’s Jurado bay was ridden by J.D. Moore (that season’s Eastern Region champion) who went on to complete a double, a feat matched by Brian Hamilton.

Two winners

Hamilton, the 2002/03 Northern Region champion, also partnered two winners on the Tuesday as did Paul Cosgrave. On board the favourite Ballyfin, Derek O’Connor, that season’s champion novice rider, was beaten a neck by the Hamilton-ridden Melmount Star in the four and five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

However, the positions were reversed in the concluding older horses’ maiden where O’Connor’s mount, Top Of The Town, was two lengths clear at the finish from the Hamilton-ridden market-leader, Caislean Ui Cuain.

On Easter Monday, April 1st, 2013, five of the six winners were owner-trained, the odd one out being Walden who was trained by Ian Ferguson for Ronnie Bartlett. The John McAleese-bred Winged Love gelding landed the winners’ of one under William Thompson.

Ben Crawford recorded a double, winning the opening four-year-old maiden on Warren Ewing’s Davy Doubt and the five-year-old geldings’ maiden on his brother Stuart’s Mr Grey. The latter scored by a distance from Ardkeen who was the only other finisher from nine starters.

Derek O’Connor won the first two races on the Tuesday, finishing alone in the two-runner confined hunt winners’ of two on the Graham McKeever-trained Fort View Wings who carried the colours of the late Peggy Hagan. The Crawford brothers won the open with the late Seamus McAlister’s Strongpoint.