THE eagerly awaited chasing debut of Gerri Colombe went without a hitch as the hitherto undefeated gelding headed another good day for Gordon Elliott who enjoyed a treble which was supplied by some very promising types.

A winner of two bumpers and both his starts over hurdles, the Robcour-owned Gerri Colombe was returning to action for the first time since January in the two-mile–five-furlong beginners’ chase for which he was sent off the 6/5 favourite.

The son of Saddler Maker produced a competent and smooth round of jumping over the course of this race and he looked to be in control when striking the front with two fences to jump.

From this point on, the favourite held a useful lead over his chasing rivals and he kept on well to the line to record an assured two-and-a-quarter-length triumph over the Grade 2-winning hurdler Bronn.

“That was a good performance and he’s had a good blow afterwards so he will come on for this. When he last ran the ground was a bit quick for him and he came home a bit sore from Thurles so we minded him as we felt this would be his game,” said Elliott.

“He is very effective on soft ground so I’m thinking he might be one for the Grade 1 at Limerick over Christmas.”

Dominant

The day began with a striking effort from Elliott’s Harmonya Maker (7/4) who was utterly dominant in the mares’ maiden hurdle over just short of two and a half miles.

The Tim O’Driscoll-owned bay looked smart in bumpers last term but should do appreciably better over hurdles on this evidence. Jack Kennedy sent her straight to the front and the only rival to offer meaningful resistance was the odds-on Law Ella.

However, the latter was fighting a losing battle following a blunder at the second last and once Harmonya Maker cleared the final flight victory was assured. She came home with 18 lengths to spare.

“She jumped very well. In her bumpers she got a little keen so I think she will be a better mare with a jump in front of her and you couldn’t have asked for any more from her today. We’ll move her up in grade now and Jack felt she would come on for this too,” stated Elliott.

Treble

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned Search For Glory (4/9) brought up the treble in the point-to-point bumper.

A winner at Quakerstown last April after which he joined his current connections, this five-year-old son of Fame And Glory turned in a likeable effort under Harry Swan.

There was momentary concern nearing the straight as Search For Glory began to be niggled along but he responded in fine style to come back on the bridle and he saw off chief market rival Zaidi over the last furlong and a half to reach the line with just under five lengths to spare.

“He’s a lovely horse and could make a very nice chaser in time. He’s not really a bumper horse so I’d say we will strike on over hurdles now,” commented the trainer.

Broom sweeps to second success

PHILIP Dempsey has a promising young chaser on his hands in Broomfield Hall (11/4) who made it two wins from as many starts over fences in the novice chase for horses rated 123 or less over hurdles.

This Raymond Fitzgerald-owned mare got by home by just a head on her chasing debut over this course and distance in October but enjoyed altogether more clear-cut success on this occasion.

Luke Dempsey moved his mount to the front before two out and the pair were soon in splendid isolation, eventually coming home seven and a half lengths clear of Razzle Dazzle Love.

“I was a bit worried about the ground the way they finished in the first hurdle race but it looks like she has improved and there is a mares’ handicap chase for her back here in early December although it may come a bit soon,” declared the trainer.

“We’ll probably miss a bit of the heavier ground and aim for the spring as that seemed to be her time last season.”

Honours

Maxine O’Sullivan took the honours in the second staging of the Lorna Brooke Ireland V Britain (Q.R.) Challenge Handicap Chase as Brian McMahon’s Hoke Colburn ended a near two-year spell without a win.

The On The Green Syndicate-owned 10-year-old was on the pace throughout this near three-mile contest and even from before the straight there was an air of inevitability about the result with the 12/1 chance having most of his rivals at full stretch.

A couple of good jumps in the straight made sure of a convincing six-and-a-half-length success.

“He rarely runs a bad race but for some reason he didn’t put his best foot forward in Galway last time. Maxine gave him a brilliant ride and he was foot perfect all the way,” reported McMahon.

“They are a great syndicate that own him and he is a great fun horse. There is a race in Thurles in two weeks that we may look at.”

Christie’s Fern blooms

DAVID Christie bolstered his impressive array of talent in the hunter chase sphere with Ferns Lock (9/4) who made a striking impression in the hunter chase over just short of three miles.

The Ray Nicholas-owned son of Telescope lined up as the winner of two of his three outings in the point-to-point field and this seamless transition to open company would mark him out as one of the most exciting hunter chasers around.

The five-year-old produced an immaculate round of jumping from the front under Barry O’Neill and came home 15 lengths clear of the dual hunter chase scorer Its On The Line.

“He’s a very nice horse. Normally I would like to take him up through the point-to-point ranks to learn but this opportunity arose and we’ll work away at this game. Ray wanted a really nice hunter chaser, that’s what I went looking for and he has very similar traits and quality to Winged Leader,” remarked the trainer.

“Barry gave him a great education today and the nice thing about him is every time he’s ran he’s stepped up from it. He could turn up in a winners’ somewhere and maybe contest the Tetratema later in the season. I don’t want to over face him at this stage.”

For much of the John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle it appeared as though the freewheeling leader Getaway Katie might hold out for victory.

She began to flag from the turn-in though and Brian Lawless and the Peter Croke-trained Carrig Carol (15/2) pounced after the second last before going on to reach the line four and a half lengths ahead of the favourite We’llhavewan.

The winner is owned by Maurice Sheehy.