A TREBLE from just three rides for champion rider Barry O’Neill was the highlight at Damma House as O’Neill completed his treble aboard the star attraction of the day, Samcro (1/4 - 2/7 favourite) in the open.

Just as on his return to pointing at Tinahely, the dual Cheltenham festival winner put in a devasting display to win by another wide margin, barely coming out of second gear in the colours of owner Camilla Sharples.

Recent Umma House winner Brooksway Fair and Donal O’Connor popped out to try and make a race of it, as he and Samcro were over 30 lengths clear of the other five runners by the third fence.

A motionless O’Neill was content to sit second till before the fourth last, but when he then let Samcro extend, a gap of 15 lengths had opened by the next fence.

The margin continued to grow all the way to line with the official verdict as the 10-year-old Germany gelding crossed the line being 65 lengths as he showed the brilliance that his earlier career had been synonymous for in front of an appreciative crowd.

Brooksway Fair was reeled in close to the line by Eagle Moon and had to settle for third.

“We will have a bit of fun with him,” Elliott said. “He will stay pointing for the time being and it’s great to see him enjoying himself.”

Barry O’Neill who was maintaining his 100% strike rate aboard the chesnut added: “It is a pleasure to get to ride him and he is really loving it.”

O’Neill had earlier opened his account for the day aboard the Philip Rothwell-owned and trained Agirlcalledchloe (1/2 - 4/6 favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

The five-year-old daughter of Notnowcato was sent off as a warm favourite against three rivals to make amends for running out when well clear at Tinahely on her previous start.

No drama

There was no such drama this time, as O’Neill made every yard of the running to run out a very easy 15-length winner over Hay Girl and Aines Dancer.

Winning handler Rothwell, who was on lead-up duty said a trip back under rules was next on the agenda.

“She will go for a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase in Clonmel in a fortnight’s time [November 17th],” he said. “She can run off her hurdles mark of 80 and the experience of today is great.”

The middle leg of O’Neill’s treble was recorded in the winners-of-two aboard the seven-year-old The Creadan Rouge (1/1 - 5/4 favourite).

Trained by Gordon Elliott and in the colours of James Power, the Scorpion gelding was a two-time winner last season and put in a resolute display on his seasonal debut.

Only six went to post and once again O’Neill set out to control things from the front. Jumping soundly, he was briefly headed by Guillaume before halfway, but by three out he had all his rivals toiling and he was well clear.

The soft ground really took its toll on the pursuers and one-by-one they cried enough to leave The Creadan Rogue to come home alone as the only finisher.

“He is for sale. He would be ideal for point-to-pointing in England,” Elliott said. “It’s great for the owners Jim and Noleen Power from Waterford who are big supporters of the yard.”

Sky win justifies long journey

HANDLER Cormac Flannery and rider Paul O’Neill made the long trip from Clare worthwhile as Shadows In The Sky (5/1 - 11/8 favourite) landed the odds in the older geldings’ maiden.

Having fallen on his debut at Boulta nearly a year previously, the son of Arcadio put in a very polished and professional performance to run out a very easy winner.

Five went to post but nothing really could land a blow as Shadows In The Sky travelled and jumped with aplomb to win by 35 lengths from Gainstown and Asatisfiedmind.

“He is a grand horse. We hacked around for him; they were going too slow for him, and I just let him hack away,” reported the winning rider of the six-year-old who was sporting the winning handler’s own colours.

Placed form

The market couldn’t split Ballyfort and Sovereign Star in the opening four-year-old maiden, as they both had previous placed form to their names, but it was the Ellen Doyle-trained Making Headway (2/1 - 9/4 joint-favourite) that took the honours.

A £35,000 store purchase from Goffs UK, the Malinas gelding was having his second run having fallen on his debut back in April.

Never far off the pace-setting Sovereign Star, he laid down a strong challenge from before the third last and had things well under control at last to score by three lengths under Brian Dunleavy, who was losing his claim aboard the Baltimore Stables Syndicate-owned winner.

“He is a nice horse and we have always liked him. Hopefully he comes out of today’s race okay and he will head to the sales now,” reported the winning handler who was registering her third winner of the season.

Abernethy takes another winner

JUST two of the original 11 entries stood their ground for the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, and it was the Colin McKeever-trained Ballyrashane (1/7 favourite) who entered the came the race have been placed second and third on his latest starts, that duly got his head in front with the bare minimum of fuss.

Cormac Abernethy was content to keep sole rival Nevermindestranger company throughout before easing on from two out. Kept up to his work he had 10 lengths to spare at the line.

McKeever reported afterwards that a sales date now awaits Wilson Dennison’s son of Milan. “He had the experience,” the Antrim-based handler said. He’ll head to the sales. Cormac [Abernethy] is getting plenty of chances and he’s taking them.”

Kingofthegame (S. Doyle): The Kingston Hill gelding was having his second run here and although outpaced before three out, he stayed on best of all to almost grab second close home. With normal improvement he should be winning a maiden in the coming weeks.