FOLLOWING the Christmas recess, the point-to-point season resumed with a Duhallow-Kanturk meeting at Dromahane on Thursday. There were no less than nine races and, on an afternoon that saw quite heavy rainfall, ground conditions turned extremely testing as the day went on.

Declan Queally, who has experienced a good run of success on the track in recent times, continued his present purple patch by sending out his wife Bernie’s newcomer The Grey Monty to record a clear-cut success in the four-year-old mares’ maiden.

The Montmartre-sired The Grey Monty (4/1) was always well positioned close to the pace on the inner with Chris O’Donovan and she moved through to dispute the running with long-time leader Springtown Sal from the fourth last of the 13 obstacles.

The winning French-bred edged ahead coming to the second last and she was always in command thereafter, three lengths separating her from the staying-on Coin Basket.

Springtown Sal meanwhile indicated that her turn is imminent by returning a further two and a half lengths adrift in third spot.

Queally was represented by his son and namesake who reported of the half-sister to three-time track winner Arcade Attraction: “She’s a nice filly that has always done things nicely at home and she will now go to the Cheltenham sales.”

Eventful

The four-year-old geldings’ maiden split three ways, having attracted an original entry of 73, and the truly run first division was a most eventful contest. The Roisin Hickey-trained Champagne Fire picked up the running before the final fence and the son of Doyen was travelling best with a two-and-a-half-length advantage when cruelly coming to grief here.

The pursuing Faulty then unseated as Donie Hassett’s Jet Away-sired newcomer Twinjets (5/1), who was adrift in third spot, slowly and safely negotiated the fence with Darragh Allen to finish on his own.

The imposing Twinjets, representing Frank Casey, is a half-brother to Sunnyvilla whom Hassett sent out to win a Clonmel handicap chase in November.

Pa King is enjoying a terrific season and the Holycross native combined with Sam Curling to win the second division of this same contest with another newcomer in the form of Inch House.

The Ocovango-sired Inch House (8/1) disputed the running on the inner throughout with Galway Mahler until edging ahead on the run to the last. Whilst Are U Wise To That went second from the last, he was still some two lengths adrift of the winning bay at the line.

Curling also owns Inch House, in whom a group of racing enthusiasts from The Ragg outside Thurles additionally hold an interest.

Mikey Kennedy seems to have a nice sort on his hands in the giant-sized Weveallbeencaught who impressed by posting a fine stamina laden performance to collect the third division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden in the hands of Eoin O’Brien.

Nice progress

Weveallbeencaught (7/1) made nice progress from five out and he eased to the front with two fences remaining. The winning son of Getaway, a close relation to Frickley and Ottowa that sports the silks of Upton-based breeder Conor Murphy, was always in command thereafter and he duly defeated fellow debutant Supreme Commander by three lengths.

“He’s a lovely big horse that has always worked well,” said Kennedy of Weveallbeencaught. “He’s been ready to run for a while, we were just waiting for an ease in the ground, and he will probably now be sold.”

While James Hannon was out of luck aboard Champagne Fire, the Tallow amateur still kept his supporters happy by teaming up with Liam Casey to win the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard Grey Skies.

Owned by his handler’s father Donal Casey, Grey Skies (3/1) was on the pace until dropping back six out.

The winning son of Cloudings, who finished third on his previous start at Moig South in late November, made his way back to the fore with three fences remaining to dismiss Weveallbeencaught’s stable-companion New Edge by three lengths.

An ex-hurdler, Grey Skies is clearly a teak-tough sort and he could now be up to making his mark over flights on soft ground.

GORDON Elliot experienced a fabulous Christmas by sending out 10 winners over the festive period including two Grade 1s and the Cullentra House Stables handler was on the mark with Mighty Stowaway in the open.

Mighty Stowaway (evens), the only winning favourite throughout the course of the afternoon, led from the sixth fence and was always travelling marginally stronger than Cloudy Tuesday from two out. Despite idling in the closing stages, the Barry O’Neill-ridden Mighty Stowaway still beat the admirable Cloudy Tuesday by four lengths to post a third success of the season.

Owner Camilla Sharples, who was on lead-up duty, indicated that Mighty Stowaway could now be entered for the Cheltenham Foxhunters.

Mick Goff’s Rouge De L’Quest readily put his rivals to the sword by making a victorious return to the fray under Tom Hamilton in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Rouge De L’Quest (5/1), who really took the eye by coming third on his only previous start in a most competitive Tralee maiden last May, went to the head of affairs three out and he asserted approaching the last to see off Tony Costello’s promising newcomer Theatre Man by two and a half lengths in the colours of Goff’s wife Catriona.

IT certainly proved to be a memorable afternoon for 20-year-old Mikey Looney from Killavullen as he recorded a first career success aboard owner/trainer/breeder’s Paddy Cronin’s mare O Mio Babbino in the closing five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden for novice riders.

O Mio Babbino (4/1), who finished a more than respectable fifth in a Tramore maiden hurdle behind Young Fitzy in October, made a triumphant return to points duty by going to the front from the second fence.

The triumphant daughter of Fame And Glory, who was quick and economical in the jumping department, was all of a fence clear six out. While the pack closed somewhat from two out, Oh Mio Babbino was never going to be caught and she still defeated Kate Derwin’s mount Rocknroll Stand by 15 lengths.

Looney, who returned to a rapturous reception, presently rides out for the likes of Paul O’Flynn, Richie Harding and Michelle Duggan.

The John Byrne-owned/trained Young Darleen, who finished third to Chosen Port on her career debut at Ballycahane in March 2020, returned to the coveted number one slot in the five- and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Aidan Fitzgerald’s newcomer Annie Magic however appeared the most likely winner when unseating two out and the always-prominent Young Darleen (8/1) duly took advantage with Barry Stone to dispose of Queshi Bridge, who then blundered at the last, by five lengths.

Horse to follow

Champagne Fire (R. Hickey): A son of Doyen that’s a mid-May foal, this fellow was clearly travelling best in the lead when falling at the last in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. He appeals as the type that should have little difficulty into blossoming into a very smart racecourse performer over middle distances.