THE joint 2020 champion under-21 rider Ben Harvey dominated last Sunday’s Westmeath and Longford Harriers fixture run at Corbeagh House when partnering the first treble of his career.

The five-year-old geldings’ maiden saw Harvey initiate his treble as Hot Rod Lincoln (4/1 - 8/1) provided handler Riceal Dunne with the first success of her career.

Making every post a winning one under Harvey, the Westerner-sired debutant forged clear of Drop Him In early in the home straight, with the departure of Eoin Doyle’s charge leaving Ballykeel to take the runner-up spot some eight lengths in arrears of Dunne’s homebred winner.

“It’s a team effort between my husband Larry, myself and Mark Walsh who rides for us. He’s a fine, big strong horse who had shown up well in a couple of schooling bumpers,” outlined Enniskerry, Co Wicklow-based Dunne of Hot Rod Lincoln, who was added to the catalogue for yesterday’s Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale.

A hunters’ chase is the likely next port of call for the David Christie-handled Ask D’Man (4/6 - 4/5 favourite) who completed the Harvey hat-trick in the winner-of-three contest.

Stride on

Once again successfully employing front-running tactics, Harvey let his mount stride on after three-out and from here it was all plain sailing with the John Hegarty-owned seven-year-old ultimately coming home a cosy seven lengths to the good over Crutches Lad.

“This lad is just a high-class horse who likes a bit of time between races. I ran him today to give him a spin right-handed in preparation for a two-and-a-half-mile hunters’ chase in Clonmel in the spring,” said the winning-handler.

Naul, Co Dublin-born Harvey-had earlier doubled up aboard Smiths Girl (3/1 - 6/1) who gained a deserved success in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Handled in Fairyhouse, Co Meath by her owner Brian Galvin, last month’s Tattersalls-third led after four out. From here, the daughter of Getaway stretched right away from her closest pursuers and at the post had a comfortable 10 lengths to spare over Missusmumagum.

“This mare needs soft ground to be at her best,” commented Galvin. “She’s a very genuine, honest mare who might revert back to hurdling over Christmas.”

FAVOURITE backers got their morning off to the best possible start as last season’s Punchestown Festival bumper-third So Scottish (6/4 - 2/1 favourite) made a successful points debut for the Emmet Mullins-yard in the opening divide of the four-year-old maiden.

Late on, the 11-runner contest developed into a match between the Eoin O’Brien-ridden winner and newcomer Faulty.

Matching strides two out, here the Mick Goff-trained Faulty came to grief with the Martaline-sired So Scottish sticking to his task well late on to account for Prince Zaltar by four lengths.

“It’s great to get that out of the way, he’s a horse with a lovely big stride on him. We’ll probably head back for a bumper with him next and he has the makings of a nice horse,” stated Mullins.

Favourite backers also got it right in the latter division of the same contest as the Johnny Barry-partnered Kalanisi Star (2/1 - 5/2 favourite) made the long journey worthwhile for Dungourney, Co Cork-trainer Alan Ahern.

Late rally

Confirming the promise of a fine-fourth behind the now Nicky Henderson-handled City Chief last season at Tralee, the imposing bay edged ahead of Hawaii Du Mestivel between the final two fences before withstanding the late rally of Rare Edition by a length.

“This lad came on for his run last season which is what you like to see. He’s always shown us plenty and saw it out well today,” observed Ahern of Kalanisi Star, who along with the runner-up, was due to come under the hammer in Cheltenham yesterday.

The Smyth family from Poyntzpass, Co Down appear to have another very useful sort on their hands in their home-bred Kates Hill (2/1 - 7/4) who went on to win the featured mares’ open by three-parts of a length.

Making her initial foray into mares’ open company, the daughter of Jeremy tracked the leading La Feline into the straight and was delivered with precision timing by Noel McParlan to head that rival on the short run-in.

James Smyth, representing his father Patsy who owns and trains the now three-time points scorer, said: “We felt from her runs last year this mare was well up to opens. She’s a mare with plenty of gears and that run should leave her spot on for a mares’ bumper in Thurles on the December 19th.”

OUT of luck earlier on the card with Crutches Lad in the winners-of-three contest, both Co Carlow-handler Willie Murphy and jockey Pa King enjoyed better fortune in the closing six-year-old and upwards maiden as the aptly-named No More Lockdown (6/1 - 8/1) made the breakthrough at the second attempt.

Bred and owned by Arthur Donald out of his seven-time winning mare Back Of The Pack, the Yeats-gelding moved through to lead early on the final circuit before seeing off the persistent home-straight challenge of Mizuma by a length and half.

“He’s a very tough horse who really puts his head down and tries. Pa was good and positive on him and gave him a great ride. It’s possible he might go for a maiden hunter’ chase somewhere next,” concluded Murphy.

Faulty (M. Goff): Only a second runner between the flags for his sire Dunaden, he was in the process of posting a most pleasing effort in the first split of four-year-old maiden only to exit when disputing with the eventual winner So Scottish.

A five-year-old maiden in the new year appears well within his compass before he graduates to the track.