THERE was top-quality fare on offer right throughout last Sunday’s Stonehall Harriers meeting at Cragmore, a fixture which belonged to Donaghmore, Co Meath-handler Claire O’Connell who registered her first double.

The Barry O’Neill-partnered Glenmalure Lady (3/1-4/1) initiated O’Connell’s brace when making all the running to claim the nine-runner six-year-old and upwards mares maiden.

Sporting the silks of the winning handler’s husband Paul O’Sullivan, the home-bred daughter of Famous Name lifted the pace on the final circuit and, having kicked-on after three-out, later contained the effort of first-timer Honey Be Good by two and a half lengths.

“This is a mare that we bred ourselves, sold as a foal and then bought back again. She’s a half-sister to Glen Ava who won four for us and like her is improving with age. She will continue in points now,” observed O’Connell of Glenmalure Lady who was confirming the promise of her recent Tattersalls runner-up effort.

Family affair

The closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden saw the husband and wife team of O’Sullivan and O’Connell bring up their double as third-timer Patsy’s Pride (6/1 - 8/1) took a notable step forward from his previous runs.

Edging closer under Johnny Barry after four-out, the Califet gelding swept through to lead before the second-last and had six lengths to spare over Beg To Differ at the line.

“We can’t believe it, we don’t have many winners, let alone doubles! He’s a tall horse, has just needed a bit of time to mature and is coming along nicely.

“He’s named after my father-in-law Patsy so it’s a real family success. We might go to our local track in Oldtown for a winners’ race next,” outlined O’Connell.

MARGARET Kiely’s Rocky’s Howya (7/4) is now set for another tilt at the St James’s Place Hunters Chase at next month’s Cheltenham Festival following his gritty three-parts of a length triumph over Con’s Roc in the open-lightweight.

Rounding off a memorable week for his handler Declan Queally, the nine-year-old led from the off under first-time partner Declan Queally Jnr and, in spite of the persistent effort of the runner-up in the home straight, finished strongly to reverse the form with his recent Limerick maiden hunters chase-conqueror.

“Ray [Barron] felt he jumped a shade left in Limerick the last day and having looked back over his form after that run, he does seem better going left-handed.

“He’ll go straight to Cheltenham now, that has always been the plan and as such we haven’t over-raced him this season,” reflected the successful rider.

Second winner for McGrath

The December Dromahane runner-up Miss Doyenne (5/2 - 3/1) went one place better in the opening five-year-old mares’ maiden and in doing so credited 19-year-old Michael McGrath with a second victory in the saddle.

Handled by the victorious rider’s father Roger for William Fenton, the daughter of Doyen was given the office by first-year TU Dublin-student McGrath on the approach to the penultimate fence and from here the pair were in no mood to be denied with a length and three-quarters the margin of victory over Cool Native.

“This mare had a lovely first run behind a decent mare of James Doyle’s (Afancy Getaway) and she’s done nothing but improve since. She knew her job a lot more today and is a promising type to go forward with,” said Roger McGrath of the half-sister to his former seven-time winner and blacktype performer Miss Eyecatcher.

THE Turlough O’Connor-ridden and trained Nibbles (6/1 - 12/1) sprang a surprise when claiming the 10-runner winners’ of one in convincing fashion.

Settled off the pace by O’Connor, last November’s Rathcannon-third Nibbles enjoyed a dream run up the inner of the leading Making Country after three out and, having showed fine reserves of stamina to readily draw clear thereafter, ultimately dispatched Headcorn by a widening 16 lengths.

“The horse gave me as good a feel as he’s given me in a long time today. He seemed to really relish the track and the ground. Hopefully he can build on this and he may go back to the track for a handicap chase in the near future,” remarked O’Connor of The Nibbles Partnership-owned Westerner-gelding.

Likable attitude

Having seen Cool Native come off second best in the opener, Jack Hendrick and Denis Murphy endured a similar fate in the proceeding five-year-old geldings’ maiden as the sweet-travelling Klondike (5/2 - 4/1) outpointed their promising newcomer Apache Tribe.

Continuing the fine run of the Donnchadh Doyle and Rob James alliance, the Bathyrhon-sired Klondike was another to lead at an early stage in the home straight and subsequently showed a likable attitude to carry the day by two and a half lengths.

“This is a horse Donnchadh has always liked but, like a lot of his runners last spring, he was sick when he had his first run. We fancied him coming here today and he was very professional throughout,” stated James of the Monbeg Syndicate-owned black gelding who was atoning for pulling-up on his debut in Loughrea last May.

Horse to Follow

Cool Native (D.P. Murphy): Runner-up at Borris House in early December, the daughter of Westerner occupied the same position in the five-year-old mares’ maiden won by Miss Doyenne. Drawing nicely clear of the third home herself, the bay should be making her mark in a similar contest in the coming weeks.