AN excellent crowd descended on the McCutcheon family’s lands at Lisbunny for last Sunday’s North Tipperary Foxhounds meeting and those present witnessed the Ellen Doyle-handled Woodbrook Boy (3/1) claim the featured ladies’ open in comprehensive fashion.

Having registered her first career success on the Baltimore Stables Syndicate-owned chesnut in Dromahane in late December, the Portglenone, Co Derry native Cara McGoldrick was once again seen to excellent effect aboard the nine-year-old.

Sending her mount to the front before the third fence, McGoldrick got her mount into a lovely rhythm up front and drawing clear after three from home, the Doyen gelding easily brushed aside Visioman by 18 lengths.

“He was jumping so well early on, I said there was no point taking him back and I let him roll on,” said the winning rider. “He was happy out in front and quickened away from them again.

“My mam and dad weren’t in Dromahane when I rode my first winner on him, so it makes it extra special to have them here today.”

The Downpatrick native Toni Quail also partnered her second winner of the season as War Call (3/1 - 5/1) was a most fortuitous victor in the winners of one.

The Sam Curling-handled War Call, in spite of jumping right, blazed a trail under Quail but had clearly succumbed to Des Kenneally’s Pray Tell well before two from home.

However, when approximately 15 lengths ahead at the time, Darragh Allen’s mount Pray Tell exited at the final fence and gifted the race to the November Lisronagh maiden winner War Call.

“We definitely had luck on our side today. Aside from jumping to his right, the horse was very straightforward and gave me a great spin,” reflected Quail of the victorious grey who runs in the colours of the DQ11 Syndicate, which comprises of friends of the late Tipperary senior hurler Dillon Quirke.

There was a real family success in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden as the Kiely brothers from Stradbally, Co Waterford combined for success courtesy of second-timer Faha Belle (6/1 - 8/1).

Handled by Paddy Kiely and ridden by his brother David, the daughter of Soldier Of Fortune stepped forward from her recent debut fifth at Ballyvodock when sweeping past the leading Eve’s Hope after the penultimate obstacle before showing good reserves of stamina to repel the staying-on Seventy Eight Team by a length.

“She’s improved a lot from her first run. She did a nice piece of work during the week so we were expecting a big run from her. We’ve only eight or nine horses in so it’s great to hit the target with this lady,” observed David Kiely who shares the 2021 Tattersalls Ireland August Sale graduate with his fellow parishioner Liam Barry.

HAVING posted the 300th point-to-point winner of his career at Oldtown the previous afternoon, Rob James was in double form, with Donnchadh Doyle’s impressive newcomer Beneficially Yours (6/4 - 9/4 favourite) completing his brace in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

A €42,000 store acquisition, the imposing son of Milan had clearly mastered the challenge of runner-up Mickie Angel early in the home straight and he duly powered clear late on to score by a widening nine lengths.

“This is a gorgeous big horse that’s coming to himself all the time. He’s one we’ve always liked and hopefully he’ll go on to bigger and better things now,” said Eamonn Doyle of Beneficially Yours who was due to come under the hammer at Thursday’s Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale (see page 46).

Double

Recent Ballinaboola fourth Mossy Fen Park (4/6 - 1/1 favourite) initiated the James brace along with completing an across-the-card double for Sean Doyle when making all the running to land the opening four-year-old maiden.

The Walk In The Park gelding had the trailing Girls Best Friend as his closest pursuer from two out and with that rival stumbling badly when held shortly before the last, Mossy Fen Park ultimately returned 18 lengths to the good over Tommys Law.

“This is a lovely horse. Things just didn’t pan out for him over the shorter trip the first day but he learned plenty from it and put in a great performance there,” remarked Eamonn Doyle of his €30,000 foal purchase who is the first produce of two-time track winner Msmilan.

HAVING performed with distinct promise on the track in 2021, the Richard Black-handled Golden De Coeur (4/1 - 5/1) produced a dashing display to land the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden in the hands of Luke Murphy.

Sporting the silks of Edgar Allen, the Racinger gelding turned in a most dominant front-running performance and was never unduly troubled to dispose of Prophet’s Corner by some 45 lengths.

“That experience today will do him the world of good,” said Black. “He’s been unlucky in the past but he put it all together in great style there. Luke sat on him during the week and he gave him a lovely ride today. He’s the first horse Edgar has had with me so it’s nice to get him a winner.”

Horse to Follow

Ivraie (S.R.B. Crawford): This good-looking son of Authorized made some good late headway in the latter stages of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden won by Beneficially Yours. Although he departed two from home, the €55,000 store more than hinted that a similar event should soon be coming his way.

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A most-enjoyable afternoon’s action concluded with the third running of the Brianna Lynch Memorial Cup, run to raise awareness for SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death In Epilepsy).

As usual, competition in this pony race was particularly fierce with the spoils ultimately going the way of Charlie Cairns, ahead of Clodagh Spain with Ali O’Brien taking the third spot.

After the running of the featured ladies’ open, the landowner Peter McCutcheon was on-hand to present a bottle of wine and a bouquet of flowers to a delighted Cara McGoldrick following her victory aboard Woodbrook Boy.