BROTHERS Welcome Back and Last Round completed a unique double for Gordon Elliott, Anne Marie McManus and her husband Kieran at this rescheduled Shillelagh & District Foxhounds meeting on Saturday last.

Both horses started off at the same Navan fixture last March and, coincidentally, finished third in their respective races. Not seen since, Welcome Back (2/5 – 6/4 favourite) was the first to return, as he made virtually all in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Ridden by Harry Swan, the market leader gained an outright advantage before the fourth and, while pressed after three out, he went on again before the next.

Kept up to his work in the closing stages, his advantage was reduced to three-quarters of a length at the line, with debutant Fortune Timmy finishing fast without ever really threatening.

“He was as green as grass and all he can do is improve. That definitely wasn’t the best performance he can put in,” Swan reflected.

“He was getting a little bit tired towards the end, but I think it was more greenness than anything. He will improve tonnes from this and he is a nice horse to look forward to.”

Last Round on O’Neill

With Swan quickly departing to ride in the bumper at Fairyhouse, Barry O’Neill guided Last Round (4/6 – 5/4 favourite) to victory in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Out of a half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Foreman, the bay victor got to the front at the halfway point and went clear from two out, keeping on well to register an easy eight-length win.

“No disrespect to any of the other horses in the race, but he is just a class above them,” O’Neill, who was completing a double of his own, reported.

“It was just a matter of getting around to be honest. He is a lovely horse and will be a chaser in time.”

THE irrepressible Winged Leader (2/5 – 1/2 favourite) registered an unprecedented 15th win in a row, when he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the open.

Settled in second behind the front-running Between Waters, the admirable Jennifer O’Kane and John Hegarty-owned 11-year-old made progress to dispute the lead four out.

Pushed along and headed on the long run to the penultimate obstacle, the Barry O’Neill-ridden victor gradually chipped away at the deficit on the climb towards the finish and got to the front after the last, keeping on well from there to score by three lengths.

The aforementioned Between Waters blundered at the last when tiring and she ultimately had to settle for the runner-up berth.

“I was worried today because we missed a lot of work. You wouldn’t get on our gallop this morning with the frost,” winning trainer David Christie revealed.

“We’ve done very little with him all week and I was really concerned today that he’d be short, but I knew I had to get him out because otherwise he gets a wee bit silly at home.

“He is just a strong horse, who keeps going all the way to the line.”

Birthday winner

Richieandsams Lady (2/1 – 6/4 favourite) was another to justify her position at the head of the market, as she made all in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Trained by Darragh Berry and ridden by his nephew Josh, the Lauro bay made all and emerged from a heavy fog eight-lengths to the good.

“She ran very well the last day when third at Ballycrystal and that was her first time out since last February,” Richie Cleary of the Run for Fun Partnership, commented.

“We didn’t know whether she’d go on the ground today, but Josh said she pinged every fence and she’ll probably go for a winners’ race somewhere next.

“She is named after my two boys, Richie and Sam and it was Sam’s birthday yesterday, so it’s great.”

ONE of two debutants in the line-up, Robert Tector’s Chanonry Point (4/1 – 3/1) created a favourable impression in the opening five-year-old mares’ maiden.

Given a patient ride by Jamie Scallan, the €8,000 Tattersalls July Store Sale purchase made good progress from four out and went third after the next.

Sent to the front before the penultimate fence, the Affinisea bay kept on well in the closing stages and eventually came home six lengths clear of Cool Native.

“She was working very well at home and we liked her coming here. We were just a little bit worried about the ground, but she handled it no bother,” Tector said of the Great Glen Bloodstock-owned victor.

Yes he can

Bob The Builder (5/1 – 6/1) also had six lengths to spare at the finish, with this Richie Rath-trained eight-year-old easily accounting for his seven rivals in the winner of one for novice riders.

Sent straight to the front by Frankie Murphy, the Malinas bay made all and jumped well throughout, as he registered his second win at the venue.

“That was the plan to go out in front. He is a right horse and hasn’t been out of the money for a while now,” winning owner Niall Heffernan enthused.

“I had him in Goresbridge at the sales there and no one wanted to buy him. I’ll hang on to him now unless someone comes to me.”

Fortune Timmy (Donnchadh Doyle): A €28,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase, this Soldier Of Fortune-bay came from off the pace to finish a never-nearer second in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Drawing six-lengths clear of the third, it’ll come as no surprise if he manages to go a place better on his next start.