LOCAL handler Colin Bowe registered a treble at Monksgrange on Sunday including victory in the feature race, the INHSC winners final courtesy of Gunnery Officer (7/4 - 5/2).

The son of Califet was anchored at the rear of the field by Barry O’Neill for much of the opening three-quarters of a mile, then took up the running before the fourth fence. The eventual runner-up Nice To Meet kept the Farmacaffley maiden winner company for much of the journey, but O’Neill’s mount went four lengths clear before the final fence and saw off Mikey O’Connor’s charge by six lengths at the finish.

The victory saw winning owner Don Forster, from Killmacow, Kilkenny, who previously held a trainer’s licence himself in England, collect a first prize of €3,500 courtesy of the INHSC.

A delighted Bowe stated: “Barry (O’Neill) gave him a great ride, he nursed him for the first half a mile because he got a bad fall at the first in Portrush, he was happy with him after a few fences and when there was no pace on he moved up to lead. He’s a horse that’s had a few problems along the way, but his heart is in the right place and it’s a lovely pot to win with him.”

Impressive Jenny

Earlier, Bowe and O’Neill had combined to land the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden with Jenny Wyse (6/4 - 7/2) in impressive fashion. The €25,000 yearling, who is a sister to Grade 2 hurdle winner Morning Run, was always prominent under O’Neill having disputed the advantage for much of the contest.

However, on the run to the third-last obstacle the debutante daughter of Flemensfirth went on and she quickly had her rivals under pressure. Turning for home only the Mick Goff-trained Clondaw Rocco was able to live with the Milestone Bloodstock-owned mare and that rival was beaten before the penultimate fence, leaving the well-bred newcomer, who is out of a King’s Theatre mare, to record a 20-length success over the aforementioned Clondaw Rocco.

The winning handler stated that he had expected his charge to put in a good performance and added that she would now head to a sale.

Lucky Son

Bowe completed his treble when combining with Bertie Finn in the concluding older geldings’ maiden, to gain a somewhat fortuitous victory with Son Of Aliciaslady (4/1 - 9/2). Theresa and Tony Abbey’s homebred son of Arcadio had finished third in a similar contest at the Rathnure venue a month previously.

Patiently ridden on this occasion by Finn, the six-year-old made good ground after jumping the third-last obstacle and was two lengths adrift of the Pat Doyle-trained favourite Who’s Houdini, when that rival came down at the final fence, gifting victory to Bowe’s charge who came home six lengths in front of the Brian Jordan-trained Johnny Me Boy.

“He ran well here last month and finished third on ground that was probably a little too soft for him,” Bowe said.

“He’ll probably run in a winners’ race before being sold at the end of the year. That’s Bertie’s (Finn) first winner for me so I’m delighted for him.”

No hiding from the Moon

ABSENT handler Aidan Fitzgerald sent out the debutante The Moon Sea’s Me (4/1 - 5/1) to win the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden to provide Danesfort-native Troy Walsh with his second career success.

Stephen Lanigan-O’Keeffe’s homebred was always towards the head of affairs, and she took up the running, jumping the penultimate obstacle, before surviving a mistake at the final fence to see off the rallying Mark Scallan-trained Anti Bridgie by a length and a half at the line.

“She’s always shown plenty of ability at home. We took our time with her and gave her the time she needed. Stephen (Lanigan-O’Keeffe) was very patient with her,” said Walsh, who is based with the winning handler.

“Aidan (Fitzgerald) fancied her coming here and it’s a pity he couldn’t be here today. She jumped and travelled and did everything right and ran out a nice winner in the end. She’ll be sold now.”

Road rattles home

The father and son duo of John and James Walsh combined with the quickly reappearing Rattling Road (7/1 - 4/1) to take the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, just seven days after he made his debut at Curraghmore.

The son of Artic Cosmos, who carries the colours of the winning handler, was never too far off the pace under Walsh and hit the front after jumping the third last. He had three lengths to spare at the final fence over the favourite Heaven Smart, who looked booked for second when coming down.

The €8,000 store, who was purchased by Brian Redmond, was then left clear of the Cormac Doyle-trained Free Parking, who finished 12 lengths adrift in second. “He didn’t enjoy the soft ground in Curraghmore last week and we thought he would run well here on the nice ground. We’ll probably sell him now,” said the Wicklow handler, who has six horses in training.

Don’tstopbelievin keeps the faith

THE four-year-old auction maiden produced the closest finish of afternoon with the Sam Curling-trained Don’tstopbelievin (7/2 - 4/1) just getting the better of Support Act by three-quarters of a length.

Timmy Hyde’s son of Champs Elysees was always to the fore under Pa King and had just half a length to find on the eventual runner-up on the run to the final fence, when a quicker jump at the last saw King’s mount hit the front on the run to the line.

The €25,000 purchase, who had come down on his debut at Ballyarthur five weeks previously, was offered at Thursday’s Goffs Punchestown Sale.

Horse to follow

Who’s Houdini (P.M.J. Doyle): This son of Beat Hollow was cruelly denied victory in the older geldings’ maiden when coming down at the final fence and should swiftly make amends.