SUMMER-like sunshine saw a large crowd descend on the Leahy family’s land at Dartfield for the Galway Blazers’ second fixture of the season.

Long-standing allies Sam Curling and Pa King were in double form and the pair commenced their afternoon by claiming the opening four-year-old maiden with the Wilson Dennison-owned Townhill (5/2 - 4/1).

The debutant who hails from the final crop of Presenting, saw off the attentions of fellow newcomer Unspeakable before the final fence, and with Donnchadh Doyle’s charge falling at that obstacle, Townhill ultimately came home 20 lengths ahead of Chancellorstown under King.

“He’s a nice horse. He’s one we haven’t a whole lot done with, so he’ll improve plenty for that. He enjoyed that bit of nice ground and jumped very well. Wilson [Dennison] is a seller, so he’ll be sold now,” said Curling.

Off the mark

Curling and King were back in the winner’s enclosure 30 minutes later as Kamsinas (2/1 - 6/1) got off the mark at the first attempt in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

A first runner and winner between the flags for his now Annshoon Stud-situated sire Kamsin, the bay responded well to King’s urgings from two out to reach the line a short head in front of favourite Winchmore Hill.

“This is a good horse with plenty of talent. He got a little cut there a few weeks ago which held him up so he was just about ready to run today. We will look at a bumper now if he’s not sold in the interim,” commented Curling of Kamsinas, who sports the silks of well-known Breeze-Up consignor Mick Murphy.

Cappajune Lady (3/1 - 6/1) sprang a mild surprise in the winners-of-one as Heather Kiernan’s charge, having got off the mark at Turtulla in January, secured her second win of the season.

Positively ridden by regular pilot Tommy Geoghegan, the daughter of Kalanisi was allowed to stride on heading out on the final circuit and had a straightforward task thereafter when defeating Heydour by six lengths.

“We couldn’t be happier with that. I’m especially thrilled for her owner Mark Davies, who only bought her after her first win. The mare’s been superb for us over the past few seasons and she always wears her heart on her sleeve,” reflected Kiernan.

DUNCORMICK, Co Wexford-rider Seán Staples also registered a double and he completed his brace aboard Seán Doyle’s The Forge Hill (6/4 - 2/1) in the featured mares’ open.

Last season’s champion mare had long threatened to get her head back in front for the first-time this term and she duly delivered in battling style in the Monbeg Partnership colours.

Seeking a first win since Stradbally last May, the cheekpieced daughter of Morozov established an advantage at an early juncture on the final circuit before finding extra late on to outpoint Sofias Castle by half a length.

“It wasn’t the plan to be so handy with her, but once she got upsides, she loved it,” stated Staples. “In fairness, she’s been running her race all season but just wasn’t getting the rub of the green. I’d say Seán [Doyle] will look for another mares open now.”

The Paul Pierce-handled Grey Opportunity (2/1 - 3/1) had earlier initiated the Staples double in the preceding five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden when making a winning debut.

The giant-sized daughter of Kingston Hill who was acquired by her joint-owner Andy Pierce for €15,000 as a store, fenced notably fluently at the head of affairs under Staples and rallied well for pressure on the flat to fend off fellow newcomer Time Was by a short head.

“This mare has always impressed us and as such we were full of confidence coming here. She has a smashing future in front of her and is for sale now,” remarked Andy Pierce, who shares the grey with his brother-in-law and top flat jockey Tadhg O’Shea, who incidentally had partnered his first Group 1 winner in the UAE the previous afternoon.

FRESH from partnering her initial career winner at Ballycahane earlier in the month, Quin, Co. Clare-jockey Laura Costello was once again seen to good effect in the closing adjacent maiden as Future Benefits (5/1 - 7/1) got off the mark on his sixth start.

This was very much a family triumph for the Costello clan as the Leading Light-sired winner is handled by the winning rider’s uncle Tom and carries the colours of another of her uncle’s Adrian.

Making all, the previous Sunday’s Belclare-fourth Future Benefits, only had Road To The Weir for company at the last and with John Neilan’s inmate erring badly here and depositing Tom Harney on the flat, Costello’s mount coasted home some 12 lengths clear of Lights Are Green.

“This horse is only coming to himself now. That nicer ground made a big difference to him too. Laura gave him a great ride and got the horse jumping very well from the outset,” observed the winning-handler.

Horse to Follow

Chancellorstown (T. Keating)

This good-looking son of Cloudings ran appreciably better than being beaten by 20 lengths would suggest in the opening four-year-old maiden, having been very much in contention until two out, where he made a notable error.

He should come on plenty for this and looks well up to making his mark in a similar contest in the coming weeks.