LAST Sunday’s Stonehall Harriers-fixture at Moig South saw former champion-lady rider Liz Lalor achieve the outstanding exploit of equalling the record number of point-point-point wins for a lady rider held by Helen Bryce-Smith.

Having partnered the first winner of her career aboard Guesswork in Kinsale in 1999, multiple-champion lady rider Lalor recorded the 109th triumph of her distinguished career aboard the David Christie-handled On The Sod (4/6 favourite) in the featured ladies open.

Retaining his unbeaten record between the flags, the nine-year-old dominated the five-runner contest from the front under Lalor and showed plenty of stamina late on to withstand the efforts of the Saoirse Cowman-partnered Sweet Home Chicago by a length.

“First and foremost, I’m just delighted for Liz. The horse probably wouldn’t have been in love with that ground today but thankfully he got through it. I have the hunters chase at Down Royal on Boxing Day in mind for him next,” reflected Christie of Kieran Mahon and Noel Keenan’s son of Ask.

Happy Story

Lalor and Christie had also been fancied to claim the preceding winner-of-two contest but their representative Handy Headon could only manage fifth behind Your Own Story (5/2 - 3/1) who concluded a double for Derek O’Connor.

Adding to his success in maiden company at Turtulla the previous Sunday, the Garry Aherne-trained gelding eroded the lead of the front-running Aghmorough Bridge before the final fence and dug deep on the flat to dismiss Three Loud Knocks by four lengths. “He’s progressing all the time and Derek was very happy with him today. If he’s not sold we’ll have a look at a maiden hunters chase in Limerick over Christmas,” said Aherne of the five-year-old whom he shares with his father-in-law John O’Mahony.

Cracking Zaidi

Galwegian O’Connor had earlier initiated his brace aboard the Ellmarie Holden-handled Zaidi (1/1 - 7/4 favourite) in the latter split of the four-year-old maiden.

Acquired by connections for €18,000 from Arqana last July, the Born To Sea-gelding had reeled in the leading Bubble Dubi when that rival erred significantly at the last, with the Paul Holden-owned Zaidi ultimately coming home two lengths ahead of Haston Clermont.

“This horse had a cracking debut run. He’s improved a lot from that run and was tough out there today. He’ll be sold now,” said winning-handler Holden of the close relation to former graded-performers Zaidpour and Zaynar, who had been a fine third at Tattersalls a little over three weeks previously.

Bound for the Goffs UK Yorton Sale on Thursday last was Inthepocket (5/2 - 3/1) who provided Paul Cashman with his initial success of the season in the opening division of the four-year-old maiden.

Debutant

Edged to the head of affairs by Michael O’Sullivan after sweeping round the final bend, the Blue Bresil-sired debutant finished out his race to notable effect to account for fellow first-timer The Electrical Kid by a length and a half.

Cashman, who shares the winner with a group of Castlelyons GAA-mad friends, remarked: “I actually bought this horse off David Futter at the Yorton Sale in 2019 so it’s nice that he’ll hopefully get back there now. He should make up into a lovely horse.”

Ifeoinly brings up O’Brien’s brace

MITCHELSTOWN, Co Cork-amateur Eoin O’Brien recorded his second double in as many weekends with the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden seeing the Corkman bring up his brace aboard the Eoin McCarthy-trained Ifeoinly (3/1 - 4/1).

Produced to lead before the last, the Brendan Walsh-owned daughter of Oscar showed a willing attitude on the climb to the line to repel Good As Hell by two lengths.

“I’m delighted for Brendan as he’s been patient with this mare and put a lot of time into her. She loves a bit of soft ground and did it well in the end. She’ll probably head for a winners’ race next,” outlined the successful handler of last season’s Mainstown runner-up.

Gaillimh prevails

O’Brien was earlier on the mark aboard Gaillimh A Stor (4/1 - 6/1) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden who obliged at the second time of asking for Dungarvan, Co Waterford breeder and owner Tony Harrington.

The Marie Harding-handled son of Presenting was never far from the pace and found most in the dying strides to prevail by a neck from Gladiatus.

Harding stated: “We think a huge amount of this horse. We chanced our arm with the ground today but got away with it. I’ve had him since he was a three-year-old and have been mad about him from day one,” reflected Harding of Gaillimh A Stor who she later indicated would likely be sold now.