THE annual Lisgoold meeting, staged by the United Hunt, took place at Ballindenisk on Sunday and the Eugene O’Sullivan-trained It Came to Pass recorded his initial success since winning the 2020 renewal of the Cheltenham Foxhunter by landing the novice riders’ open under first-time partner Cal Shine.

Fenno’s Storm and Isaac Wonder took the 10 runners along with It Came To Pass (5/4 favourite), who showed a return to form by coming second to Cloudy Tuesday at this same venue last month, always well positioned.

The winning son of Brian Boru touched down in front over the penultimate of the 12 fences and he was clearly travelling best on the run to the last, two lengths separating him from fellow veteran Killultagh Vic. Fenno’s Storm showed that he’s still a force to be reckoned with by returning a further head adrift in third spot.

“He’s handling soft ground better as he’s getting older,” remarked handler O’Sullivan’s daughter Maxine, who partnered the Alurie O’Sullivan-owned bay to his memorable Foxhunter success almost two years ago. “He will now run in another point and he will hopefully go back to Cheltenham again for the Foxhunter.”

Fortune’s form

Fenno’s Storm handler Declan Queally continued his present purple patch courtesy of Desert Fortune in the four-year-old mares’ maiden, much to the dismay of the nine bookmakers present.

Desert Fortune (1/2 favourite) brought the best form to the table considering that she went down fighting when beaten a short head by Copperfasten on her debut at Boulta last month.

The victorious market leader disputed the running with Miss Drussell until sent on by Queally’s stable amateur Chris O’Donovan on the run to two out.

It was plain sailing thereafter as the daughter of Soldier Of Fortune, a half-sister to five track winners from the same family as The Proclamation, sprinted clear to account for Potters Princess by eight lengths.

”I felt that she stepped forwards from Boulta and I was expecting a performance like that,” divulged Queally’s son and namesake of Desert Fortune. “Chris (O’Donovan) gave her a lovely ride and she will now go to the sales.”

Red’s winning rhythm

Sam Curling is likewise experiencing a fine season and he combined with Derek O’Connor to collect the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with newcomer Red Dirt Road, a son of Fame And Glory, owned and bred by Walter Connors.

Red Dirt Road (3/1) got into a lovely rhythm at the head of affairs and he made virtually all to defeat Corbetts Cross, who fell at the seventh fence in Dromahane on December 30th, by four lengths.

The grey newcomer Fulgurant looked promising securing the minor honours, a further eight lengths adrift.

“He’s a very nice horse that has just taken a bit of time and he loved that soft ground,” said handler Curling of Red Dirt Road, a half-brother to three track winners from the same family as Irish Grand National and Galway Plate winner Feathered Gale.

PATSY Leahy trains just two horses, but the Conna-based operator has a smart prospect on his hands in Oscar Tonic who continued her rate of progression this season by posting a typically battling success at the expense of solitary rival Red Vision in the winners of two.

Oscar Tonic (6/4), who finished an excellent fourth to Exit Eleven at Boulta last month having won her maiden at this same venue on December 4th, was bounced out in front by Darragh Allen and she was clearly holding Red Vision at the final fence. The winning daughter of Oscar then bounded clear to oblige by two lengths.

Leahy indicated that his wife Claire’s Oscar Tonic, who also finished fourth in two maiden hurdles last summer, will now contest the mares’ race at the Ballyvodock fixture later this month.

Katie does it

Owner Benjy O’Donoghue, who hails from nearby Knockraha, and his brother ‘Joker’ celebrated their initial victory at a Lisgoold fixture as Knockraha Katie made her initial start for handler Nicky Stokes a winning one by benefiting from front-running tactics on her return to points duty in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Knockraha Katie (9/2), who has a mark of 80 over hurdles, was holding Larkfield Legacy when that Co Wexford raider exited at the final fence and the triumphant eight-year-old was then left clear with Finian Maguire to beat the only other finisher Koyote by a distance.

JOE Ryan fares well with his small string and the east Co Clare-based operator was on the mark with Just A Dime in the first division of the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Just A Dime (5/1) made a terrific start to his career by finishing second to Brandy Love in a two-and-a-half-mile Cragmore contest in February 2020, but he then pulled up on his two autumn starts the following season.

Returning from an absence of just over a year here, Just A Dime was always positioned on the pace and he edged into a couple of lengths advantage with James Hannon from four out.

The winning son of Doyen, representing Ryan’s son Josh, was holding Ahayerknowyerself when the latter erred at the last with two and a half lengths the winning margin. It’s probable that Just A Dime will now contest a winners’ race.

Joe’s Turn

Richie Rath, out of luck with Larkfield Legacy in the older mares’ maiden, still got on the scoresheet as the Screen-based handler saddled Joe’s Turn to make a victorious debut in the second division of this race.

The Jet Away-sired Joe’s Turn (4/1), owned and bred by Laurence O’Brien from Tinscoon outside Oylegate, picked up the running for Harley Dunne before two out to beat long-time leader Murphy’s Double by three lengths.

Horse to follow

Murphy’s Double (S. Aherne): This son of Watar, having shaped respectably on his debut in a Tipperary maiden point last April, give it a good go from the front on his return in the second division of the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden. He should be up to winning a similar type of contest.