QUIN, Co Clare rider Laura Costello was the toast of last Sunday’s well-attended Limerick Harriers fixture at Ballycahane as she partnered her first winner aboard her mother Claire’s Keep Me Posted (4/1 - 6/1) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

This was after a 90-minute delay to the commencement of the day’s proceedings owing to insufficient ambulance cover.

Keep Me Posted, handled by the winning rider’s uncle Tom, was always in the slipstream of Fia Fuinidh towards the head of the 12-runner field.

With newcomer Another Million moving through to lead before two out only to eject Brian Lawless some way after that fence, the Colin Bowe-handled Regarde soon set sail for home.

With Costello’s mount responding gamely to her urgings late on, and Regarde blundering at the last, the recent Carrigarostig-third Keep Me Posted seized the initiative early on the flat to carry the day by a neck.

“I couldn’t be happier. I’m working full-time as a pharmacist so this is part-time for me, but I love it. The only other yard I’m riding out in at the minute is Aengus King’s,” reflected a beaming Costello, who was becoming the 16th individual lady rider to sample success this term.

“I’d love to get into another yard. Hopefully it will be onwards and upwards for the remainder of the season.”

Doyle’s form

Fresh from claiming a Grade 2 novice hurdle with Flame Bearer, handler Pat Doyle maintained his rich vein of form as Kudasheva (2/1 - 5/2 favourite) collected the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden.

David Connors’ homebred daughter of Pour Moi assumed control of the eight-runner contest from flag fall under Pa King and had her task simplified further when the chasing Molly Sanderson departed at the final fence, leaving her to oblige by 12 lengths.

“She did her job very nicely. We’ve always felt she’s a smart filly who has always worked very well,” remarked Mary Doyle of the now likely sales bound first produce of a half-sister to 2016 Gold Cup winner Don Cossack.

Ifeoinly finds plenty more

THE Brendan Walsh-owned Ifeoinly (1/1 - 5/4 favourite) further enhanced her already burgeoning reputation with a determined success in the day’s feature event the four-runner mares’ open.

Once again partnered by Brian Lawless, who had steered her to victory in a similar contest at Ballycrystal a fortnight previously, Eoin McCarthy’s charge found plenty for pressure up the home straight to post a three-length triumph over The Forge Hill, who had chased her home on her last run also.

With McCarthy on duty elsewhere, stable representative Saorcha Fitzgerald said of Ifeoinly, who was recording her fourth win of the term: “Brian gave her a super ride, he was good and patient on her as he knew she’d come home strong. We might look at another mares’ open or a hunters chase now.”

Koyote kicks on

North Cork breeder and owner Deirdre Connolly achieved a notable feat when no less than two of her homebreds scored on the six-race card.

Connolly will have gained immense satisfaction from the triumph of Koyote (5/2 - 3/1) in the nine-runner mares’ maiden as she also owns the daughter of Vinnie Roe.

Making all the running under Mikey O’Connor, despite the persistent threat of newcomer Knockraha Lass in the home straight, Koyote fared best on the short run-in to score by a diminishing half a length.

Placed in two consecutive outings at Ballindenisk in December and January, Koyote was saddled to victory by Castlemahon, Co Limerick-located Terence Leonard, who reflected: “That was well overdue! She always runs her race to be fair to her.

“A winners’ race or a hunters chase will probably be next on her agenda.”

Deirdre Connolly had earlier witnessed her homebred Affordale Fury (6/1 - 8/1), the second produce of a half-sister to Koyote, claim the four-year-old geldings’ maiden to provide handler Gary Murphy with his initial success in the training ranks.

Produced with a well-timed challenge by Shane O’Rourke to lead in the shadows of the final fence, Affordale Fury, who sports the silks of Murphy’s wife Cassie Parle, only needed to be kept up to his work late on to prevail by two lengths from Phillip Fenton’s Japers Jack.

“This is a lovely horse that myself and Darragh Berry bought at last year’s August sale. We’ve loved him since day one and he showed his worth today. I’ve about a dozen in at the minute so it’s lovely to get the ball rolling. Hopefully this horse will head on to the Cheltenham sales now,” commented a delighted Murphy of his charge, who was also crediting his sire Affinisea with a first winner.

Rua’s effort

Midleton, Co Cork-rider David Mulcahy was once again seen to good effect when successful aboard Pat Healy’s Ta Se Rua (4/1 - 6/1) in the closing older geldings’ maiden.

In a race where four of the nine-runner field held definite claims on the run to the final obstacle, Mulcahy conjured a tremendous late effort from the Flying Legend gelding to dismiss John Nallen’s Gin Light by a widening three lengths.

“I know the horse is getting on but he hasn’t a lot of racing done as he missed a lot of time last season due to Covid and that.

“He had some nice pieces of form in the book so it’s great he got his head in front,” said winning handler and owner Healy of his recent Ballyvodock third who is likely destined for winners’ company next.

Horse To Follow

Knockraha Lass (J. J. Walsh): This daughter of Soldier Of Fortune produced a cracking debut effort when forcing Koyote to pull out all the stops. She should gain compensation in the coming weeks before she graduates to the track.