DARRAGH Allen was the only rider to partner two winners at last Sunday’s Aghabullogue fixture, a one that has been staged by the Muskerry Foxhounds on the Murphy farm at Dromatimore since 1988, with the Araglen native opening his account aboard the Robert Moloney-trained Driscolls Hill in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

On an afternoon that saw all six favourites getting beaten, Driscolls Hill (4/1 - 5/1) and Whatchagotder took the 12 runners along until the eventual winner went for home at the second last.

Driscolls Hill, who unseated at the final fence when lying third on his career debut in the Dromahane contest won by If You Let Me last season, soon edged into a couple of lengths advantage with favourite Incitatus taking up the chase on the decent from this penultimate obstacle.

Incitatus though was making little impression on the winner, a son of Ocovango, when blundering at the last as Wings On Wheels also stayed on from mid-division to claim second spot in the closing stages.

However, Wings On Wheels was still three and a half lengths adrift of the victorious 2022 Goffs Land Rover sale graduate at the line with a further head back to Incitatus in third.

Driscolls Hill was led up by his Ballinadeee-based owner Dan Lordan, a long-standing point supporter who remarked of his late June foal who traces back to Galmoy and Youlneverwalkalone: “He should have finished third at Dromahane last season and I think he’s a proper horse. He might be sold now.”

On Song

Allen then combined with Cappagh-based operator Paul Kiely to collect the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden with former hurdler Native Song (4/1 - 6/1). Currently rated 86 over flights having posted her best effort by coming eighth in a Cork maiden hurdle last August, the seven-year-old Native Song benefitted from front-running tactics.

The victorious daughter of Fame And Glory, owned and bred by Mark Walsh from outside New Ross, got into a lovely rhythm at the head of affairs and the patiently-ridden Sapporo Tower emerged as her closest pursuer after the second last.

Sapporo Tower, however, had to be called upon to raise her effort just before the turn into the home straight and she was making little impression in second, some six lengths adrift of the eventual winner, when departing at the last. Native Song was then left with a straightforward task to defeat Sarah McNamara’s mount River Graney by 10 lengths.

“We said that we would go pointing with her after she ran four times over hurdles,” reported handler Kiely, who was greeting a first winner of the campaign. “She will stay pointing and she could go for a hunters chase later on. “

Celebration

Aleish Lass (7/1 - 10/1), another former handicap hurdler, provided the 13 bookmakers present with plenty of cause for celebration by springing a 10/1 surprise on her points debut in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

The Michael Winters-trained five-year-old Aleish Lass, a 91-rated performer that showed signs of ability by coming eighth in a Clonmel maiden hurdle in November, made smooth progress from the fourth-last to hit the front two out.

Rider Andy Burke-Ott was merely a passenger thereafter as the Vendangeur-sired Aleish Lass, a close relation to former Grade 1 winning novice hurdler Dedigout, bounded clear to beat newcomer Dear Orla by 35 lengths in the colours of Winters’ brother-in-law Noel O’Connor.

Winters, who also captured this same race with subsequent six-time track winner For Bill in 2008, indicated that Aleish Lass will now contest next month’s Knockanard mares’ winners’ race.

ELLMARIE Holden’s Hitak (2/1 - 7/4) continued his clear upward trajectory by recording a third consecutive success of the season in the novice riders’ open.

The seven-year-old who brought himself to the attention of a wider audience by beating Winged Leader on his first start in open company at Dromahane on December 30th, was re-united with his December 10th Tattersalls winning partner Paddy Cody, who sent him through to challenge Joy Of Life at the third last of the 16 obstacles.

The French-bred edged into a narrow advantage well before the last and he was clearly in command when throwing a fabulous leap at this final fence.

Hitak then swept clear to contain the previous Sunday’s Ballindenisk third King Alex by 10 lengths in the silks of his handler’s father, Paul Holden.

The 18-year-old Cody, who rides out with Joseph O’Brien, remarked of Hitak: “He didn’t really like the ground (Yielding/Soft). But, he came alive when I set him alight on the last circuit and his ability got him through. He’s a real nice horse.”

EDDIE Roche, a 24-year-old who hails from Castletownroche, returned to a rapturous reception on partnering a first winner aboard his boss Marie Harding’s seasonal debutant Farmers Future (2/1 - 3/1) in the six-year-old and over geldings’ maiden.

The giant Farmers Future, who signed off last term by finishing third to Barton Snow at Dromahane in April, swept to the head of affairs on the outer before the last to dismiss the consistent Arctic Skua by 10 lengths. A winners’ contest is next for Farmers Future, representing his rider’s younger sister Niamh Roche. Ms Harding, who sent out Lissen To The Lady to oblige over hurdles at Clonmel three days earlier, departed with a double as she was earlier on the mark with Saffron Hill (4/1 - 6/1) in the winners’ of two.

Beau’s Candle made what appeared to be the decisive move by dashing through to lead starting the descent from two out. The seven-year-old Saffron Hill, who shed his maiden tag at Quakerstown in November, had in the region of 10 lengths to make up in fifth spot from this penultimate obstacle. The Declan O’Keeffe-owned and bred Saffron Hill however, really hit overdrive from the last and forged past Beau’s Candle inside the final 50 yards to score by a length in the day’s closest finish.

Wings On Wheels (W. C. O’Brien): This son of Pour Moi, who traces back to his breeder Pat O’Donovan’s 2003 Irish Oaks heroine Vintage Tipple, made a particularly pleasing return to action in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden by staying on purposefully for second spot behind Driscolls Hill. A bright track career should automatically beckon.