LIZ Lalor was the star of the show at last Sunday’s meeting held at the Scarteen Foxhounds’ new track at Comea as she became the winning-most point-to-point lady rider when recording her 110th winner aboard Read To Return (4/1 - 6/1) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Liz Lalor has been a dominant force in the lady rider ranks over the past decade or so having won outright, or shared no less than eight leading lady rider titles. She achieved the magnificent milestone with a typically positive ride aboard her partner Tom Keating’s Fame and Glory-gelding beating Helen Bryce-Smith’s record of 109 wins.

Leading from the outset, Read To Return kept up a relentless tempo late on to outpoint newcomer Hurricane Vichi by three lengths. Unsurprisingly, the successful duo returned to a rapturous reception.

History-making Lalor took it all in her stride, reflecting: “I’m absolutely delighted, it seems to have taken an eternity to get here but I finally did it. I’ve had huge support since it all began in 1999 from a whole host of people, obviously first and foremost from my family and my partner Tom. Regional secretary Frankie Ward has been a constant support too and has really made a huge difference in creating more opportunities for lady riders. Without their support I wouldn’t be standing here today.

“A whole host of owners and trainers have also stood by me down the years and again without them, today would never have been possible. To make history on one of Tom’s is particularly sweet and to have our daughter Alex here to be part of it all makes it very special indeed.”

Cody success

Dunnamaggin, Co Kilkenny-rider Emily Cody is amongst a new generation of lady riders who no doubt would have been inspired by Lalor’s achievements over the last number of years and she got on the score-sheet herself, as former Cheltenham Festival winner Killultagh Vic (3/1 - 4/1) claimed the four-runner open lightweight.

The now 13-year-old Killultagh Vic, was produced with precision timing by Cody to head the leading Crazywork De Vassy in the shadows of the final fence and only needed to be kept up to his work late-on to oblige by two and a half-lengths.

“He’s tough out and saw it out really well today. We won’t over race him but we’ll probably look for something similar in a few weeks time,” outlined the winning-rider’s mother Debbie, who handles the eight-time track winner for Rose Boyd.

FRESH from a treble at Kirkistown the previous afternoon, Rob James notched up a second hat-trick of the weekend which he initiated in the opening four-year-old maiden aboard the Colin Bowe-trained Willmount (1/1 - 2/1 favourite).

Always to the fore, the sound-jumping son of Blue Bresil quickened up nicely from the penultimate obstacle to deny Denis Murphy’s fellow first-timer Shannon Royale by two and a half lengths. “We think this fellow is very smart. He’s a horse with a nice turn of foot and, he should have no problem dropping back in trip inside the rails. He’ll head on to the sales next,” intimated Bowe of Willmount who he shares with the winning-rider.

Double

A spare ride on Patrick Ryan’s pointing debutant Barnaleen (6/4-3/1) in the seven-runner confined maiden saw James bring up his double on the card. Confidently-ridden as How’s Trix and Imperial Pride set sail for home from two out, the Imperial Monarch-gelding Barnaleen, who is shared by the winning handler and the unrelated Liam Ryan, found plenty at the business end to dismiss the John Gleeson-handled How’s Trix by a length.

“It’s great to win our local race. As we found out down through the years with other runners, it’s never easily won. This is a very genuine horse, who will improve again for better ground,” remarked a delighted winning handler.

Big Step Up for Son

HAVING been on the mark with Value Till Dawn 24 hours earlier, James once again combined with trainer Shark Hanlon as Step Up Son (6/4 - 2/1 favourite) justified favouritism in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Home-bred in Bennettsbridge, Co Kilkenny by his owner David Walsh, the Scorpion-sired six-year-old edged ahead on the outer shortly before the final fence and drew clear in the closing stages to get the better of Champagne Trail by a widening six lengths.

“I’m delighted for David, his dad and his whole family as they’ve been in racing 25 years and this is their first-ever winner. This horse had a grand run the last day and Rob felt he did it well there today. He’ll most likely be seen in a winners’ race next,” said Hanlon of last month’s Turtulla-fifth Step Up Son.

Anna Rocks

The Michelle Gannon-owned and -trained Rock On Anna (3/1 - 5/1) delivered on her initial promise to land the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden under Mikey Sweeney. The home-bred had been an encouraging fourth behind Autumn Return at Turtulla on her debut and finished to some effect on the run-in to score on her second career start.

In a strongly run contest, the daughter of Ocovango powered past long-time leader Breezy Strand after the home turn and with Liz Lalor’s mount departing at the final fence, Rock On Anna eventually came home some 18 lengths ahead of Carrig Wells.

“We’re thrilled with that. Her half-brother Rock On Harry won for us at Ballyvodock a couple of weeks ago so the family are on a bit of a roll. This mare is a very tough nut. Races like that are hard enough won, so we’ll enjoy today,” said the trainer.

Horse to follow

Shannon Royale (D.P. Murphy): This towering son of Walk In The Park quickened particularly well with Willmount from two out in the four-year-old maiden and kept that rival honest all the way up the home straight. The half-brother to Paddy Power Handicap Chase-winner Minella Foru should make up into a lovely sort inside the rails.