ALL good things come to an end was the phrase that sprang to mind on completion of the open at this rescheduled Clonmel Harriers fixture.

Turned out again quickly after his Tinahely success the previous Saturday and bidding for an unprecedented 16th win in a row, Winged Leader ultimately had to settle for second, with Pat Coyne (4/1 - 3/1) pulling off the upset.

Headed by the Jody Townend-ridden victor approaching the straight, David Christie’s ever-popular 11-year-old wasn’t fluent over the last two and, try as he might on the run-in, he was still two lengths down at the line.

Trained by John Queally for his wife Miriam, the successful Fairly Ransom grey benefitted from a patient Townend ride, with a flawless jump at the last sealing the win.

“When I saw Winged Leader declared, I thought we better go home,” the winning trainer quipped. “He pinged his fences today and we will keep him at this game for a while. The ground was a help to him too, he likes nice ground.”

Made all

Previously trained by Eoin Doyle and starting off for Andy Slattery, Amoroso (6/4 - 1/1 favourite) made all in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Pressed by market rival Rainbow Connection from three out, the Adam Ryan-ridden victor held a narrow advantage when her aforementioned opponent crashed out at the last.

Owned and bred by Ronan Tynan, the successful Berkshire chesnut subsequently sauntered to a 45-length win, with Dameauscottlestown the only other finisher.

“She was probably going to win anyway and we would have been disappointed if she hadn’t,” Slattery commented.

“She’ll make a nice mare over hurdles and fences during the summer.”

WILLIE Murphy saddled the first and third in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, with his Revolut Ned (6/4 – 2/1 favourite) completing a double for Pa King.

Placed on his last three starts, the Doyen bay, who is out of a half-sister to smart hurdler Gowel Road, certainly wasn’t winning out of turn.

With the last omitted on all circuits due to the low-lying sun, just 12 fences were jumped in this eight-runner heat.

In a share of the lead before two out, the market leader gained an outright advantage after the last and found plenty for pressure on the extended run-in, seeing off the gallant effort of Long Road by two and a half lengths.

“We were due that. He has run his race every day,” Murphy, who also owns the winner, reflected.

“He jumped better than normal today and got a lovely ride. We’ll probably try to find a winners’ race for him now.”

King had earlier guided Mickey Hulie (2/1 - 5/2) to a four and a half-length success in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden.

Out of dual track winner Ma Garrett and down the field on debut at Tattersalls, the Harry Kelly-trained five-year-old raced in a share of the lead from flag fall, gaining an outright advantage after three out.

Door open

Soon wandering and showing signs of greenness, the Pour Moi bay left the door open for Witheros Hill to throw down another challenge.

However, that rival made a mistake at the last, with the John Nicholson-owned and bred victor drawing clear on the run-in.

“He is a grand horse and he’ll improve plenty from it. He is still green and backward, but he has a good attitude and is a laid-back horse,” Kelly divulged.

Nicholson, who previously owned and trained open winner Pat Coyne, added: “We took him to the Land Rover Sale and couldn’t get a bid for him. I had the dam and she was the first Mahler mare to get blacktype.

“It was good to see Pat Coyne win as well. I gave him to John for his lads to ride.”

Khafre rewarding the patience

JUST six of 21 entries lined-up for the opening five-year-old geldings’ maiden, with Colin Bowe’s Khafre (2/1 - 3/1) coming out on top.

A well-beaten second of 11 on debut at Lingstown in November, the €34,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase was given a patient ride by Barry O’Neill.

Closer in fourth from halfway, the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd-owned bay made further progress to dispute the lead from three out and, while soon in front, he made a slight mistake at the next.

Ridden away from the final fence, he kept on well in the closing stages to see off newcomer Kaiser De Chanay by a length and a half.

“He is a very nice horse. We fancied him the first day at Lingstown, but the ground was heavy there and a lot of horses pulled up,” O’Neill reported.

Lot of time

“We’ve given him a bit of time since and he has actually won with plenty in hand. He was having a look around and missed the second last.”

A former Bowe inmate took the winners of one, with Asphalt Cowboy (2/1 – 5/1) obliging for Sonny Carey and his wife Mary Kilduff.

Successful on debut for current connections at Durrow in March, the Getaway seven-year-old ran out before the last when beaten in second the following month at Ballycrystal.

Returning to action in this seven-runner heat, the Michael Sharpe-ridden bay raced in mid-division, taking closer order in third after four out.

Making further headway to dispute the lead before the last, he ultimately outstayed Barton Sky on the run-in, with three-quarters of a length between them at the line.

“Colin Bowe had him and recommended him to me for Michael to learn on, and he has been brilliant,” Carey enthused.

“Michael is something else, he is magic. I wish I had more horses for him to ride. He is the only one who seems to be able to get a tune out of this horse.”

Kaiser De Chanay (Pat Doyle): One of two newcomers in the opening five-year-old geldings’ maiden, this €62,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase was beaten into second by a horse who had the benefit of a run.

A half-brother to a listed winner over flights in France, he should come on plenty for this initial experience.