THE East Antrim Harriers meeting at Loughanmore on Saturday was all about one horse, namely newcomer Teeshan who initiated the opening leg of a two-timer for handler Gerald Quinn and rider Noel McParlan by annihilating the opposition in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Teeshan (4/1 - 5/1), whose dam Miss Pepperpot [by Winged Love] won five races on the track in addition to being Grade 2-placed over fences, disputed the running with Always A Reason until edging into a couple of lengths advantage from the fifth of the 14 obstacles.

The son of Westerner gradually upped the tempo on the final circuit and was merely in cruise control when standing off a bit far out at the third last, making an error in the process.

He then moved some six lengths clear on the ascent to two out at by which point Boyles Hill had taken up the chase with five of his tiring rivals pulling up in the vicinity of this penultimate obstacle.

It was all plain sailing on the long run to the final fence and the €62,000 Goffs Land Rover sale graduate remarkably quickened again on the flat to beat Boyles Hill by 41 lengths in what was the fastest-run race of the afternoon.

Majestic Moment completed a clean sweep of the places for debutants by returning a further eight and a half lengths adrift in third spot with the trio being the only finishers from the 11 runners that set out.

Winning owner Philip McBurney, from whose Broughshane yard handler Quinn operates out of, remarked: “He was in training last season and Gerald [Quinn] was always happy with him. We took our time with him as he was always a horse that we were looking forward to.” The indications are that Teeshan will now be sold.

An already excellent afternoon got even better for the Quinn/McParlan combination courtesy of Above And Beyond (2/1 - 3/1) in the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, a race that unfortunately attracted just four runners.

Above And Beyond stepped forwards from his third-placed return effort at Toomebridge two weeks earlier by going for home after two out.

The victorious grey then powered clear from the last to return with eight and a half lengths to spare over fellow former track performer Hymie Weiss.

“We’ve had a great day today,” said owner/trainer Quinn before adding: “Above And Beyond ran well to come third in Toomebridge and he’ll probably now go for a winners’ race.”

Respite

The 13 bookmakers had by far and away the better of the exchanges with the only respite for punters coming when Colin Bowe’s Wallace Olinger (1/2 - 4/7) justified favouritism in the winners’ of two.

The six-year-old Wallace Olinger, a Fame And Glory-sired half-brother to Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival winning novice hurdler Bob Olinger, supplemented his Loughrea maiden debut success from almost two weeks earlier by assuming command with Barry O’Neill after two out to dismiss the mare Voleur De Terres by five lengths.

It’s probable that the Brian Acheson-owned Wallace Olinger will stay pointing for the time being.

Dennison scores another local win

THERE is nothing quite like winning at home and landowner Wilson Dennison was the toast of many of those present as his Unionhill (3/1 - 4/1) made a taking winning debut in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Colin McKeever-trained Unionhill, a son of Soldier Of Fortune out of a half-sister to five-time Grade 1 winner Bellshill, whom McKeever and Dennison likewise started in points, was always positioned at the head of affairs and he was already in command when blundering at the final fence.

Unionhill then asserted on the flat with Co Tyrone native Cormac Abernethy to account for fellow pacesetter Tommys Charm by two and three-quarter lengths.

Handler McKeever, who was saddling a second winner of the campaign, remarked: “He’s a grand horse and we gave him plenty of time. I was hoping that he would get the job done first time out and it has worked out well.”

The Peter Croke-trained debutante Shantwopointfive (4/1 - 6/1) landed the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden in the hands of Brian Lawless.

Took the eye

The Shantou-sired Shantwopointfive, owned and bred by Maurice Sheehy, took the eye travelling well from five out and she jumped into the lead three out.

While also none too clever at this third-last obstacle, Shantwopointfive was containing the patiently-ridden favourite Ambush Annie on the approach to the last.

She then gave her supporters major cause for alarm by running extremely green inside the final 100 yards which allowed Ambush Annie to close to within a length at the line.

“She had been working well at home and just got a bit lonely in front,” said Croke of Shantwopointfive, his second individual runner of the season.

Reflection Of You, one of the definite paddock-picks beforehand, set out with the intention of making all and the sweet-jumping daughter of Jack Hobbs led until giving way to Railway Bell and Jewel Of Windsor after the second last.

The €37,000 Goffs Land Rover sale graduate refused to yield and she edged her way her way past Railway Bell to lead on the inner at the last. While runner-up Katie Daniels closed inside the final 50 yards, she still returned some two and three-quarter lengths adrift of the winning Bernice Stables inmate.

“She’s a smart filly that I think is very good and she’ll now go to the sales,” commented Ewing of Reflection Of You, a half-sister to dual British winning hurdler The Wounded Knee from the same family as Grade 2 victor Rosaker.

Horse to Follow

Railway Bell (R. James): This newcomer by Mahler made her way into pole position after two out in the four-year-old mares’ maiden.

While giving way at the last and duly finishing third, the close relation to Brandy Love fits the profile of a ready-made track winner.