THE first of two Bree Foxhounds meets scheduled to take place at Monksgrange this spring campaign was dominated by locals, with all seven races won by Wexford-based trainers and riders.

Rob James had an afternoon to remember, with He Can’t Dance (2/1 – 4/6 favourite) the first of his three winners in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Also under the tutelage of James, this Jukebox Jury grey is out of a half-sister to dual Champion Chase winner Master Minded and he raced towards rear in the early stages. Improving into a close second after a circuit, the Matchmaker Syndicate-owned victor gained an outright advantage on the approach to the penultimate obstacle and was value for more than the winning margin of two and a half lengths.

“He was travelling very strong in my hands and I didn’t want to be pulling out of him. He has such a cruising gear that I just let him on and he was still only doing a half speed,” James reflected. “I think he is very, very special.”

The horse is among the initial entries for next Thursday’s Goffs Aintree Sale.

Bowe winner

James teamed-up with Colin Bowe for his second success aboard Kate Of The Lodge (6/4 – 7/4 favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Still in with every chance when unseating two out on debut at Knockanohill, the Westerner bay gained compensation in style.

Third when coming to three out, she made good progress to lead before the next and soon went on, coming home 16 lengths clear of Florita, the only other finisher.

“She is out of an Ask mare and is by Westerner, so she is tough,” Bowe commented. “She is owned and bred by Brian Kenny from Dublin and she’ll probably head to the sales now.”

Fruitful afternoon

In the colours of the Monbeg Syndicate, Tyrella third Kakadu Park (6/4 – 2/1) rounded off a fruitful afternoon for James, as he claimed the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

There was a sad postscript to this seven-runner affair, with Mon Meilleur Ami, who held a narrow lead, fatally injured when stumbling badly after two out.

Primitic then assumed command, but couldn’t hold off the Donnachadh Doyle-trained victor, who found plenty for pressure to lead before the last, going on to register a four-length success.

“He got there way too early at Tyrella. Rob is different gravy around here and he put him to sleep today,” Sean Doyle, representing his brother, remarked.

JUSTATAN (3/1 – 4/1) supplied the Goff family with a memorable success in the winner of two for novice riders.

Trained by Mick Goff, owned by his wife Caitriona and ridden by their son Harry, the Estejo chestnut was providing his 18-year-old pilot with a first career success.

A winner on debut at Tinahely in October, the five-year-old made all in this 10-runner affair and jumped fluently throughout, keeping on well in the closing stages to beat Wallace Ollinger by four lengths.

“That’s brilliant, I can’t believe it, it’s great for the young lad and he gave him an absolute peach,” the winning handler enthused. “He is finished school and is on a year out, but now that he is after winning it’ll probably be hard to get him to college!

“The horse is the most genuine you’d ever have. He is very good to jump and is very game and honest.”

The Goffs were just denied with Hurricane Pat in the previous contest, the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

There was a dramatic conclusion to this eight-runner affair, with the patiently ridden Thomas Byrne-trained Chef’s Kiss (8/1) a fortuitous winner under Josh Berry.

Sent to the front approaching three out, Arctic Conditions went on before the next and was clear of his two remaining rivals when blundering and unseating Shane O’Rourke at the final fence. This left Hurricane Pat and Chef’s Kiss to fight out the finish, with just a head separating them at the line.

“We rode him wrong the last day, we had him in front and we shouldn’t have done that,” stated Byrne, who also owns the successful son of Mount Nelson. “We’ll try and get him in a sale somewhere now, maybe Goresbridge.”