THE Route Harriers fixture at the seaside venue of Portrush was all about one handler, Gerald Quinn.

Newcomer Kovanis (2/1-1/1 favourite) lit up the fixture in the colours of Philip McBurney as this debutant son of Polish sire Tunis initiated the opening leg of a four-timer for his handler Gerald Quinn and a treble for last season’s northern champion Noel McParlan by annihilating the opposition in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden which attracted the largest field of the day with 11 runners.

This £50,000 Goffs UK store purchase, a half-brother to multiple track winners, tracking the leaders for the majority of the contest as he made smooth progress before two-out and, when asked for his effort, he stormed clear from the penultimate obstacle to stamp his authority over his rivals to record a facile 10-length victory over fellow newcomer Daydream Nation.

Unbelievable

The winning handler stated: “What can I even say about that, he was just unbelievable. I have always thought a lot of this horse and his work at home has been very good.

“Noel gave him a brilliant ride. The horses are flying so hopefully we can keep it up. He will now be sold.”

The Broughshane-based handler certainly kept up this rich-vein of form as he sent out the Rodney Arthur-owned Bayonetta (1/1-10/11 favourite) to land the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

This six-year-old daughter of Leading Light got a well-deserved victory on the back of her second-placed effort at Toomebridge seven days earlier.

Disputing the running for the majority of the contest she bounded into a clear lead in the straight to win by three lengths over Fiddledee.

“I’m so delighted for the mare, she deserved this win,” Diane Arthur, wife of the winning owner, said. “She’s quite ground dependent so if the ground turns, she will go on a break and back for a spring campaign.”

The return to the pointing fields of Tamlaght Eyes (7/1) reignited her spark as she landed the winners-of-three contest for the inform McBurney-Quinn combination.

This eight-year-old daughter of Doyen relished the quick underfoot conditions as she cut out most of the running upsides stablemate Weespoof, as she jumped very efficiently from fence to fence in the hands of Dara McGill.

Every chance

She was challenged on the run into the straight and still held every chance two-out when her two main challengers exited the contest.

As a result, she was left to come home as she pleased 10 lengths to the good over last weekend’s winner Tech Talk.

Triumphant owner McBurney remarked on his in-form stable: “The yard is flying. We couldn’t have started the season any better, but there has been a lot of effort put in. Gerald’s the main man, but the team behind him all work just as hard and we are reaping the rewards for that. I’m delighted with the way things are going and Tamlaght Eyes will continue in winners’ company.”

Morale Boost (1/1-11/10) made up for lost time as this six-year-old newcomer made the perfect start to his career in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Only three runners headed to post in the finale and, with none of the trio keen to make the running, he had to set his own fractions in the hands of the treble-seeking McParlan.

Despite a few minor jumping errors, as expected for a horse with his level of experience, this son of Equiano who is well-related to many flat performers, was still travelling with ease when left to come home in splendid isolation after the penultimate obstacle to bring up Quinn’s second career four-timer.

“He’s a nice big horse, he’s very green so Gerald did well to get him ready for today as he was only broken about four-months ago,” McParlan said of the Barry Darragh-owned gelding. “He will definitely improve for that experience.”

DILIGENT Militia (5/4 favourite) made the journey from Wexford to the most northern track on the circuit worthwhile for reigning champion handler Colin Bowe, as this newcomer justified his position at the top of the market in the colours of The Weddings and Wakes Syndicate to take the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

This son of No Risk At All was a €195,000 acquisition when purchased by Henrietta Knight at Goffs in 2022. He is out of a four-time flat-winning dam and is a half-brother four-time winning Authorised Speed.

Despite being a first-timer, he fenced with great professionalism, as he chased the leaders for the majority of the contest before making his way to the front on the approach to the third-last.

He picked up readily between the final two obstacles to show a smart turn of foot, asserting his authority over his rivals to come home three-and-a-half lengths clear over the more experienced Tsavo Park.

Leader back with a bang

LAST year’s champion point-to-point horse Winged Leader (4/6-4/5 favourite) picked up where he left off as this 10-year-old son of Winged Love performed most admirably to record his 23rd career success between the flags.

Setting a strong gallop from the drop of the flag, he travelled and jumped in his usual style with regular partner Barry O’Neill bringing up his double on the day.

He was joined and briefly headed in the home straight by runner-up Carnfunnock, but battled back bravely in champion-like fashion, putting in a much swifter leap when it mattered at the last to score by a length for owners John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane.

Ticking over

The delighted winning handler David Christie said: “It’s great to see him in that form, I kept him ticking over during the summer to prevent him from getting stiff.

“He usually takes two or three runs to get going so if he was going to get beat, I would not have been disappointed if it was today but that was just spectacular.

“He’s an unbelievable horse, once in a lifetime for me and his owners. Barry said when he jumped the second last, he knew he had more to give and he got a flyer at the last. If we can keep him in this sort of form the all-time most winning horse is in sight but keeping him sound and healthy is the main goal.”

Daydream Nation (C. Bowe): He seemed to be caught flat-footed before the penultimate fence and was relegated to the rear; from here, he stayed on gamely to the line to get up for the runner-up honours. Out of a half-sister to Gold Cup-winning Minella Indo he is sure to improve for this experience and may prefer a softer surface.