THE Edward O’Grady-trained Making Country rolled back the years at Saturday’s rescheduled Nenagh fixture, staged under the auspices of the North Tipperary Foxhounds, by benefitting from a sublime waiting ride from Eoin Mahon to claim victory in the winners of one.

Making Country (3/1 - 4/1 co-favourite) has been relatively lightly-raced in recent years and the J.P. McManus-owned bay pulled up before two out on his return to action in the Cragmore winners contest won by Nibbles in late January.

The victorious eight-year-old, clearly suited by the sounder underfoot conditions that he encountered here, was put to sleep at the rear of the 15-runner field, as Longhouse Star and Second Subaltern vied for supremacy up front.

The Killeens inmate stylishly moved closer from the fourth-last of the 13 obstacles and only had Drive On Jimmey in front of him from after two out. The winning son of Shirocco threw the faster leap at the last and he then took the measure by a length.

“He’s obviously a horse that has had his problems. Everyone has been very patient with him and he’ll probably go for another winners’ race now,” disclosed O’Grady of Making Country.

Local luck

On an excellent afternoon for Co Tipperary-trained horses, handler Andy Slattery sent out the first of his two weekend points winners, courtesy of Camden Bard (5/1 - 7/1) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Camden Bard, having finished on his penultimate foray behind Khafre at Turtulla in January, was always positioned close to the pace and the triumphant son of Walk In The Park moved through for Adam Ryan to lead approaching two out.

Hello Fortune was by now in the winner’s slipstream, but he had no reply once the €72,000 Goffs Arkle sale acquisition forged clear approaching the final fence and was duly beaten five lengths into second spot by the victorious June foal that sports the silks of his handler’s sister-in-law, Mrs Sharon Slattery.

Hello Fortune’s handler Donnchadh Doyle went one better with Catalani (5/4 - 6/4 joint-favourite) in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, much to the dismay of the six bookmakers present.

Catalani, who was placed on all three previous career starts, always travelled well close to the pace on the outer and it was all relatively plain sailing once he forged to the front with Rob James after three out, as he swept clear to contain Winning Paddy by six lengths.

The winning son of Lauro, a €58,000 acquisition at the 2022 Goffs Land Rover sale representing the Monbeg Syndicate, is now likely to contest a winners’ race.

PAT Doyle kept his supporters happy by recording a two-timer and the Suirview Stables operator sent out a winner with his very first runner for joint-owners’ Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, following the emphatic success of newcomer Le Frimeur (3/1 – 7/2) in the four-year-old maiden.

Coolmeen Briggs and Mossy Fen King took the seven runners along, with Le Frimeur content to wait well off the pace. Having given his supporters some cause for alarm by blundering five out, Le Frimeur crept ever-closer in third from three out and he stylishly assumed command from the penultimate fence.

The result was never really in doubt thereafter, as the winning son of Gemix, a €50,000 acquisition by Highflyer Bloodstock at last year’s Goffs Arkle sale, bounded clear for David Doyle to dismiss Johnny Moonshine by seven lengths.

“I’ve been friends with Anthony Bromley for a long time and this is my first horse for the owners,” said trainer Doyle of Le Frimeur, whose winning dam is a half-sister to French Grade 3 winning hurdler, Desin D’Un Soir. “He will probably go to one of their track trainers after a summer at grass.”

Doubled

Doyle then struck with I Masked The Potier (4/1 - 5/1) in the ladies open, the victorious French-bred registering a battling last-gasp victory under his 24-year-old owner, Pandora Briselden.

I Masked Du Potier stepped forwards from his most recent third-placed effort behind the mare Hathaways Cottage last month, by chartering the most economical route on the inner approaching the bypassed two out en-route to mastering Pat Coyne by a head.

Doyle reported of the ultra-consistent I Masked Du Potier, whom Ms Briselden also steered to success in a Ballydarragh winners contest before Christmas: “Pandora gave him a lovely ride and I’d imagine that he will now go for the three-mile maiden hunters chase at Cork over Easter.”

THE Ross O’Sullivan-trained Justlikejessejames (3/1 - 4/1) attained her due reward by showing a clean pair of heels to her rivals under a confident Lee Shanahan in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Justlikejessejames, having finished second on three occasions for her previous connections, always travelled well on the inner, with the Downtown Syndicate-owned bay edging ever-closer after three out and she swept past favourite Klassy Pearl on the flat to score by an increasing three lengths.

The newcomer Carrigeen Karenga, meanwhile, hinted that her turn is imminent by returning a further one-length adrift in third spot.

Horse to Follow

Carrigeen Karenga (T. Keating): This daughter of Malinas, a sister to six-time winner Carrigeen Kampala, was always well-positioned on her debut in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. Whilst held before the last, she still finished out her race extremely well to be beaten just four lengths into third. The five-year-old should easily develop into a track winner next season.