A WEEKEND to remember for Wexford handler Jonathan Fogarty finished on a high at the Kilkenny Foxhounds meet at Damma House as he saddled a third four-year-old winner in two days with Quantum Boy (5/4 - 1/1 favourite) making a huge impression on debut.

Word beforehand all centred around this Diamond Boy half-brother to the top-class Bravemansgame and he didn’t disappoint as he delivered a polished and professional performance out of the top drawer.

Partnered by Derek O’Connor he was content to track the leaders in this field of nine before being asked to extend three out, and when he opened an immediate gap over toiling rivals it was evident this contest was over.

He effortlessly drew clear and won eased down by 40 lengths from the pace setting Ailt An Chorrain and Freestyle Fighter.

An €85,000 Derby sale purchase and sporting the colours of the Gaynestown Stud Partnership, he will likely carry new colours the next time as his handler stated: “He is for sale. He did what we thought he would do, a very exciting horse for the future.

Relived and thrilled

“Derek loved him, said he was going easy everywhere and he jumped well. I’m just relived and thrilled.”

The Sean Doyle-trained Roe And Co (2/1 - 4/5 favourite) had gone into plenty of notebooks on debut when he was carried out by a loose horse while looking a likely winner at Loughrea.

Facing eight rivals on his second start in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, he was backed as though defeat was unthinkable.

The Malinas gelding was left in front six from home under Jamie Scallan, and despite the persistent challenge of Oscars Brother he battled away to record a two and a half-length victory.

A €33,000 Goffs graduate out of an unraced Oscar dam, he now heads to the upcoming Tattersalls Cheltenham November sale as winning owner Gearoid Doyle explained: “He was very unlucky at Loughrea, he will head to a sales now, he is a nice horse.”

Local winner

The locals got a winner on the board in the mares’ maiden when the David Walsh-owned and trained Lucky Venture (4/1) made all the running to readily fend off Amyr by three lengths with Darling Sister a long way back in third as only three of the five starters finished.

A second career winner for Byron Tully, the daughter of Affinisea is one of just three horses that Danesford-based Walsh has in training.

“The plan wasn’t to really make all, there was no plan,” Walsh said. “She is a good stayer, and she seems to settle and jump better when she’s in front. She’s a much stronger more mature mare this season.”

THIRTEEN faced the starter in a wide-open winners’ of two contest that saw last time out winners Double Digits and Wallace Olinger as market selections, but the winner came in the shape of Shiroccosmagicgem (10/1) under Thurles pharmacist Gerry Spain.

A mistake-filled round saw Double Digits eventually fall three out and it looked as though Wallace Olinger would capitalise. But under a well-judged ride from Spain, the Shirocco mare was delivered approaching the final fence before going on to score by five lengths.

Trained by Edward Power and in the colours of Liam Cleary, this was a return to the points field for a mare that had won her maiden at Dromahane in 2022.

Power was delighted for the winning rider as he stated: “It’s great win for Gerry [Spain], he lost a good horse of his own during the week so that will give him a boost. She will stay in winners’ company.

“She is a nice mare; she is carrying plenty of weight and wouldn’t be fully fit so you would expect her to improve. John Reddington in the UK gave her to Liam Cleary, and he sent her to me.”

Firm grip

The Declan Queally yard has a firm grip on the older gelding division at the minute and fresh from the victory of Beau’s Candle at Lisronagh on Saturday he produced the long-absent Don’t Matter Now (5/4 - 4/5 favourite) to run out a ready winner here.

Last seen finishing second in a Cork maiden 911 days previously, the Ask gelding was well supported and in the colours of the Hoping For The Best Syndicate he didn’t disappoint.

Partnered by the handler’s son Declan, he tracked the forward going Casey West throughout the contest as the searching gallop saw the 11-runner field quickly whittle away.

Although ridden along before two out, the eight-year-old stayed on resolutely and had six lengths to spare over Casey West at the line.

The winning rider reported: “He is a horse that the syndicate lease from Danny Fitzsimmons, who still owns a share in him. We’re having a bit of crack off him and he will go for a winners’ of one next.”

LAST season’s champion hunter chaser Its On The Line (6/4 favourite) got his season off to a winning start under Maxine O’Sullivan in the open.

Eight started with Jeremy Pass and Derek O’Connor ensuring an honest gallop with the favourite content to track the leaders.

Improving to dispute it from three out, the Presenting gelding, carrying the silks of handler Emmet Mullins, looked to have matters well in control at the last and set for an easy win.

He idled on the run-in as Jeremy Pass and Braeside rallied and nervous favourite backers watched as the winning distance was reduced to half a length at the line.

“He is not simple; he doesn’t make life easy for himself as he can run around a bit, Maxine was great on him,” Mullins said.

“That is a great start to the season for him to get off on a winning note. All roads lead back to Cheltenham, he can improve as he is still a young horse and is clearly going the right way.”

Jeremy Pass (S. Curling): was making his debut for new connections. Twice a winner for Paul Nicholls he jumped with aplomb and made the winner work hard as he rallied again close home. This was a fine open debut, and he looks like fitting straight into this competitive grade.