A ROB James four-timer was the highlight of a well-attended Killinick Harriers meet at a cold and blustery Lingstown.

The four-year-old geldings’ maiden was divided and the Rob James and Donnchadh Doyle combination took each division with two exciting prospects.

In the opening division, Brook Bay (4/7 favourite) was all the rage among the 10 starters and the newcomer by Affinisea put in an impressive display to score by four lengths.

Always close to the pace under James, he quickened smartly on the run-in to see off Chatshow TV and the dead-heating pair of Minella Diamond and Chancellorstown.

“He is a horse with a big future,” remarked his handler and we can next expect to see the Monbeg Syndicate-owned gelding, who is from the family of Desert Orchid, fetch a big price at Cheltenham next Friday..

That same combination were also responsible for the winner of division two with Simple Getaway (2/1 - 5/2). Ten runners went to post and the Getaway gelding picked up the running a long way out and made this a true test.

Big galloper

One by one his rivals folded, and he beat the well fancied Charming Fortune by eight lengths with just the three finishers. Sales-bound now, Simple Getaway was described ny Doyle as “a big galloper and a very nice horse.”

James brought up his treble for the afternoon aboard the Colin Bowe-trained Kayf Hope (5/4 - 1/1 favourite) in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.

The Milestone Bloodstock-owned daughter of Kayf Tara had finished second on both her previous starts and won here with the minimum of fuss by a snug five lengths from Killybegs Jet Lady. Described by Bowe as honest and likely to make a nice track mare, she will offered for sale at this afternoon’s Goffs UK Tingle Creek Sale in Sandown.

The last leg of the James four-timer was completed in the concluding older maiden. Eleven runners faced the starter here and James was seen at his best to bring Lar’s Lass (2/1 - 7/4 favourite) home in front by a length.

The daughter of Ocovango was making her points debut and a cleaner jump at the last sealed the victory as Gray Rock was just in front when a final-fence blunder handed the Tom Dreaper-trained filly the advantage.

“She will tip away pointing,” Dreaper explained. “She is a lovely mare, owned by lovely people and she is named after the late Lar Skelly, the senior of this family. It might be only an older maiden on a Sunday, but it means an awful lot to them.”

The former track performer carried the blue and white colours of Mrs L and N Skelly.

Loggan leaps to banks success

THE cross-country course at Lingstown always provides a great spectacle and the feature race of the day, the open, saw all 12 entries stand their ground.

Loggan Lady (5/1) recorded her second straight win over the banks to follow-up her victory in March for the father and son team of John and Barry Walsh to score by two and a half lengths over Space Cadet in a very competitive renewal.

The race was run at a strong tempo throughout courtesy of Mitchouka. Track specialist Vital Island picked up the running before the final double bank and went clear.

However, Loggan Lady slowly reeled him in, only getting to the front after the last as Vital Island faded badly to drop into third.

This was a well-judged ride from Walsh, allowing the 10--year-old Beneficial mare to register her fourth career win.

“I didn’t think he was going to get there; they went a real good gallop,” remarked the winning owner/ handler John Walsh. “We will head back to the Ladies Cup at Punchestown hopefully. We will keep her to these types of races, and she will be back here in March.”

Newcomer

The five-year-old geldings’ maiden went to Co Cork as the Daniel Murphy-trained and Johnny Barry-ridden newcomer James Jet (6/1 - 5/1) stayed on well close home to beat One for Dan by two-and-a-half lengths.

The complexion of the race changed completely at the second last as the front running The Mass Path fell and brought the well fancied Clody Flyer to a standstill.

Barry showed all his experience to avoid the trouble aboard the Connery Racing partnership-owned Yeats gelding, who is well related and a half-brother to three winners.

“He might go to the sales; he is a saleable horse.” reported Murphy, who was maintaining his 100% strike rate for the autumn season.

Fine Night for O’Rourke

THE opening four-year-old fillies’ maiden featured 13 runners and it produced a local success with Only By Night (6/1) running out a four-length winner in the hands of Shane O’Rourke.

Trained for the Turbine Syndicate by Gary Murphy, the daughter of Affinisea was making amends for falling on her two previous stars.

In a strong-looking race, where a group of five mares all had chance approaching two out, it was Only By Night who stayed on the best down the home straight to defeat On Cloud Nine by four lengths.

Having cost just €13,500 as a store, she is the first foal of an unraced dam and comes from the family of Somersby.

“We were coming here expecting that, to be honest,” beamed a delighted Murphy. “She is a fine, gorgeous filly, 16.3hh and a good mover. She wouldn’t look out of place in the sales ring and the owner is a selling man.”

Horse to Follow

Charming

Fortune (C. Hughes): A €60,000 store purchase at the Tattersalls Derby Sale, this good-looking son of Soldier of Fortune was well touted for his debut and ran a race full of promise.

He stalked the winner Simple Getaway every step of the way as they drew clear. He could find no more between the final two fences against a stamina-laden rival. He will be very hard to beat the next day.