THE Henry de Bromhead-handled Chris’s Dream (1/1 - 5/4 joint-favourite) put in a scintillating performance to claim the featured ladies open as the Stonehall Harriers unveiled a new-track layout for their annual autumn fixture at Moig South.

Returning to points duty for the first time since claiming a Boulta younger maiden just shy of six years ago for Eugene O’Sullivan, the former 165-rated chaser was settled in a close-up third by that handler’s daughter Maxine as Solomn Grundy cut out the early running.

Drawing some way clear with runner-up Aloneamongmillions after three out, the 10-year-old readily asserted before the penultimate fence, ultimately passing the post 22 lengths lengths clear of the Toni Quail-partnered runner-up.

“It was fabulous to see him out there enjoying himself again. We couldn’t be happier with it. We have the Foxhunters at Cheltenham as the long-term plan, so we’ll look for something similar in a few weeks but we’ll try and keep him nice and fresh for March,” said Rob Acheson of Chris’s Dream, who carries the colours of his father Brian.

O’Donovan double

Following his best ever season, Chris O’Donovan has once again hit the ground running this term and the Shanballymore, Co. Cork-rider left the Shannonside-venue with a double which was completed by Fromheretoeternity (1/1 - 7/4 favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Handled by Declan Queally, the Doyen-sired debutante was always to the fore under O’Donovan and kept up a relentless gallop in the closing stages to thwart the determined effort of fellow first-timer Sophie Gold by a length-and-a-half.

“This is a lovely mare with a smashing pedigree. She’ll come on plenty for that run and, at the minute, I’d be thinking of a winners’ race in January for her next,” remarked Queally of Brett Merry’s home-bred.

For the second successive Sunday, Templemore, Co Tipperary-located Maike Magnussen was on the mark in a five-year-old geldings’ maiden as Getoverthathill (5-8/1) obliged at the third attempt to initiate Chris O’Donovan’s brace.

In a fiercely-run contest, the Noel Casey-owned son of Getaway headed long-time leader Connors Cross after the third from home before stretching right away from that opponent in the straight to score by a widening 12 lengths.

“That was a lovely performance, he showed a lot of stamina there. He really enjoyed the conditions, that bit of soft ground was ideal for him. If he’s not sold in the interim, we’ll look for a winners’ race next,” outlined Magnussen of last season’s Nenagh-seventh Getoverthathill.

Big Bang lands the spoils

RACING opened with a four-year-old maiden which saw a field of six go to post and here Paul Tobin’s One Big Bang (2/1 joint-favourite) took the spoils in what was a desperately close finish.

Unlucky to be carried out when very much in contention in Ballyarthur last March, the steel-grey son of Masked Marvel responded excellently to Finny Maguire’s urgings late on when edging ahead after the last to narrowly see off Tom Keating’s pace-setter Lazer Wolf by a neck with the fast-finishing Slate Lane only a further head behind in third.

“I’m delighted he got the rub of the green this time. He’s a nice horse. You’d love the way he saw it out after the last there and he will head onto a sale now,” divulged Tobin of One Big Bang who is owned by Mogeely, Co. Cork-native Eamonn Hickey.

Easiest

The lightly-raced The Blind Piper (2/1 - 5/2) was the easiest winner of the day when authoritatively collecting the winners of two event in the hands of Pa King.

Last seen when contesting a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in January, the Robin Des Champs gelding was produced in fine fettle by his handler Eddie Power and drawing on from three out, the nine-year-old came home as he pleased some 60 lengths to the good over All About Lucy.

“He has always shown us he is a very good horse. He’s had plenty of little issues but we’re training him out of the field now and it seems to be suiting him thank God. We’ll aim for a winners-of-three next,” stated Power, who also owns the bay.

Grange grinds out popular win

YOUNG Killeagh, Co Cork-jockey Daniel Fitzgerald was seen to great effect in the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden when steering Liam Burke’s former track performer Grange Island (2/1 - 3/1) to a gritty victory.

Partnering his second career winner, Fitzgerald conjured a fine renewed effort from Marty Fleming’s Shirocco gelding after the penultimate obstacle which saw him retake the lead from runner-up Love The West in the shadows of the last fence and eventually carry the day by two-and-a-half lengths.

“It’s mighty to get that there today as I think he’d actually prefer better ground. We’ll more than likely go for a winners’ race with him next,” revealed Burke.

“I’m particularly delighted for the horse’s owner Marty Fleming from Castlemartyr. He’s 85 years old now and has been with me for many, many years and is a wonderful man. He’ll get a tremendous kick from that win.”

Sophie Gold (M. J. O’Connor): On her debut, this Multiplex-sired five-year-old ran a race rich in promise under her rider/trainer when a fast-finishing second behind Fromheretoeternity in the mares’ maiden.

She shouldn’t have much difficulty in going one place better in the coming weeks.