WHILE Leopardstown was a popular venue of choice amongst the racing fraternity on Sunday last, so too was Ballinaboola, with three divides resulting in a nine-race programme.

Colin Bowe came away with a brace, which was highlighted by the success of Korkoran (6/4 - 5/4 favourite) in the opening four-year-old maiden.

The French-bred son of No Risk At All was emulating the great Envoi Allen, who won this very contest for the same connections in 2018.

Never far from the pace under Barry O’Neill, the Walter Connors-owned bay led narrowly from three out, and despite making a slight mistake at the next, he battled on gamely in the closing stages to fend off Let Me Go Boys by a head.

Seaview Road was another head away in third, with Bowe commenting in the aftermath: “He is very well-bred. He missed the second last and landed in a bit of a hole, but he did well to get back going again and he is a nice horse going forward.”

The Kiltealy handler doubled his tally in the first division of the seven-year-old and upwards novice riders’ maiden.

In an unusual sequence of events, this race was originally not divided, with a field of 16 set to take part.

However, just as runners were set to leave for the start, they were called back by officials who realised the novice riders’ safety limit of 15 had been breached.

Late scamble

This resulted in a late scramble to divide the contest, with the bookmakers present quickly forming a new market.

Out on the track, it was Bowe’s Haggard (3/1 - 2/1 favourite) who emerged victorious under Eoin Staples, making the breakthrough on his 10th start when coming home six lengths to the good

“I’m delighted for Tom Coleman [owner], who has been patient with him. Eoin was very good on him, and he is a nephew of the owner,” Brendan Walsh, representing Bowe, revealed.

On what was his debut in this sphere, Memories Never Die (5/2 - 3/1) was a decisive 12-length winner of the second division.

Bringing some solid track form to the table, the Nigel Slevin-trained eight-year-old improved to lead with a circuit to race and went on before two out.

“We knew he had a good chance, and he was very good today,” winning rider Finn Brickley said of the TFC Partnership-owned victor.

SEAN Doyle and Jamie Scallan also combined for a double, which was initiated by newcomer The Final Word (5/2 -3/1) in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

A £25,000 Goffs Spring Store Sale purchase, the Getaway chesnut had a good scrap with fellow debutant Old But Gold from before the last, and just a neck separated them at the line.

“We really fancied this lad coming here and he is a lovely, lovely horse. I’d say it was a good race, and they went a good gallop. He is very tough and will go to the sales now,” Doyle remarked.

Willitgoahead (6/4 - 4/5 favourite) completed the Doyle/Scallan double in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden, with this one also carrying the colours of the Monbeg Partnership.

Placed on two of his three previous starts, the Getaway bay was all out on the run-in to hold off the renewed effort of his front-running stable companion, Soldier Of Rock, with just a head between them as they passed the post.

“I frightened myself there!” the winning handler quipped. “He will be a lovely, fun horse going forward, and he’ll go for a winners’ race now.”

While Doyle saddled the well-supported Karisto (4/1 - 9/4 favourite) in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, he failed to make an impact and eventually pulled up.

This 12-runner affair went the way of debutant Forty Coats (3/1), Andrew Latta’s first runner of the season.

Carrying the colours of his father, Charlie, the Diamond Boy bay was never far from the pace under Harry Swan and improved to lead before the last, going on from there to score by four lengths.

ON an afternoon dominated by Wexford handlers, Peggy’s Rock (6/1 - 4/1) really put her rivals to the sword when making all in the concluding winners’ race.

From the family of dual Grade 1 victor Feathered Leader, the Mount Nelson five-year-old established a clear lead from early.

Given a breather by Michael Sweeney after four out, she went on again approaching the next and had eight-lengths to spare at the line.

Bidding for his third success in as many weekends, De Nordener was settled well off the pace and while he plugged on into second in the closing stages, he was never in a position to challenge.

“This is a good mare. She has a very good pedigree and she took them all out of their comfort zone from early on,” Mick Goff, who trains the bay victor for his wife Caitriona, stated.

There was further success for the ‘home team’ in the five-and-six-year-old mares’ maiden, with both divisions won by Model County handlers.

Stepped forward

Two Fingers West (4/1 - 5/1) stepped forward from her debut effort at Lingstown in December to take the opening division under Barry Stone for the Go Left Ben Syndicate.

An €8,000 Goffs Land Rover Sale purchase, the Benny Walsh-trained bay took over from the front running Justlikejessejames approaching the last, and she kept on well from there to prevail by four lengths.

Owned, trained and bred by Courtown-based Patrick Doyle, Lady Mags (6/1) comfortably accounted for her nine rivals in the second division.

A runner-up on her previous start at Tinahely almost a year ago, the Bertie Finn-ridden bay progressed from five out and got to the front before the second last, going on from there to win by six lengths.

“We took our time with her, and we will see how she is, but she could go to Cork on Easter Monday for the mares’ maiden,” Doyle reflected.

Justlikejessejames (J.P. Brennan): Out of Bobarlee, a dual winner for Willie Mullins, this Mount Nelson bay bravely attempted to make all.

She couldn’t hold off the challenge of Two Fingers West, but given she drew 30 lengths clear of the other finisher, she should have little difficulty in making the breakthrough soon.