THE conveyor belt of wide-margin four-year-old maiden winners coming out of Matthew Flynn O’Connor’s yard in the second-half of the spring campaign showed no signs of stuttering to a stop at Punchestown on Saturday when Ittack Blue (94++) recorded his debut victory by 16 lengths.

Visually, the run appeared to be right amongst the upper echelon of four-year-maiden winning performances from the past three and a half months.

Racing to the home bend in this 15-runner race, it looked as though the grey would be strongly pressed by his two closest challengers, including the previously placed Waspy.

However, once asked to extend approaching the final fence, he immediately began to lengthen clear, and although the race was over as a contest jumping the final fence, he simply continued to extend the advantage as he hit the line full of running having clocked the quickest time on the card. He looks particularly exciting.

Visioman (106+) was well produced by Troy Walsh to pick-off the favourite on the run-in, and in getting the better of a very strong benchmark for this division in A Rated, he could develop into a notable open horse for next season with the pair 17 lengths clear of their rivals.

More experienced

At Ballindenisk, Lord Snootie (89++) faced 14 rivals, largely made up of more experienced types for his debut, and although the only one of the eight finishers to have no previous experience under his belt, he decisively dismissed them from the front on the climb between the final two fences. He seems to possess all the attributes to develop into a smart stayer.

In contrast, Lunar Contact (90+) just hung on to victory in the second division of the four-year-old maiden as Isle Of Gold (89+) finished with a real flourish in eye-catching fashion, with Colin Bowe responsible for both winners in the age group, his Imperial Assassin (91+) took a notable step forward from his Kirkistown debut and likely appreciated the quicker conditions.

Meanwhile at Stradbally, Milfordfourthree (74+) was always going to be a big player when returning to quick ground having been so unfortunate at Rathcannon and she won with plenty up her sleeve.