THE Co Clare Hunt’s traditional Easter Sunday-fixture at Quakerstown is always one of the most eagerly anticipated meetings of the spring point-to-point season and unsurprisingly the large crowd which descended on the Lee family’s lands for this year’s meeting were treated to some quality action.

The opening four-year-old maiden at the Burrenside venue has a rich history, having acted as a starting point for some high-class performers over the last decade and the Pat Doyle-handled Foreverwalking (5/2 - 3/1) earmarked himself as a name for the future when running out a game winner of this year’s renewal.

Initiating a double on the day for Pa King, the imposing Walk In The Park-gelding edged ahead after three fences and despite an error at the final fence, made little of his inexperience to withstand the late rally of Mick Goff’s Rath Gaul Hill by a head.

“That was a very good performance. He’s a big raw horse that’s only learning his job,” observed winning rider King. “He was plenty green in front and picked up well again when the other horse came to him.”

One-two

Having witnessed his former graduate Noble Yeats claim the Randox Grand National just over a week previously, local handler Donie Hassett provided King with his 25th success of the campaign as Getaway Train (6/4 - 2/1 favourite) led home a Hassett one-two in the closing confined maiden. Atoning for pulling-up on his two prior starts, Getaway Train, who sports the silks of a partnership comprising of Damien Murray, Dominic Murphy and Pat Leamy, collared his front-running stablemate Jacks Orchard en route to the last fence before seeing off that rival by three and half lengths. “We’ve always felt he was a nice horse so it’s good to get him back on track. Pa [King] thinks he’d be a nice type for a bumper so we’ll now look at the point-to-point bumper in Tipperary next month,” reflected Brian Hassett.

Sixth win

Jacks Orchard’s jockey Harley Dunne partnered his sixth winner in five weeks when guiding the Paul Pierce-handled Noplacetobe (6/4 - 7/4 favourite) to victory in the five- and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Making all under Dunne, last month’s Belclare debut fifth Noplacetobe asserted after two out and had little difficulty in defeating the Evan Nugent-ridden Finding Fame by a cosy five lengths.

“This is a very professional mare who has always worked nicely at home. She’ll win plenty of races going forward and will probably head on to the Goffs UK Sale in Doncaster now,” said Andy Pierce who shares ownership of the daughter of Kalanisi with Tom Denton.

NEWMARKET-ON-Fergus pilot Conor Costello enjoyed a dream return to action following an injury layoff when partnering his father John’s Search For Glory (4/1 - 6/1) to a stylish debut success in the 11-runner five-year-old geldings’ maiden

The younger Costello, who only had his 21st birthday the previous week, allowed the sweet-travelling son of Fame And Glory to join issue with the front-running Fulgurant at the last, and with Barry Stone’s mount exiting here, Search For Glory ultimately recorded a five-length triumph over Old Folks Tale.

“My last winner at this track was Next Destination, so hopefully this lad can go on like him. He’s a lovely horse that I bought as a foal from his breeder Pat Connell,” outlined John Costello. “That’s Conor’s fourth winner and he was good and cool on the horse there.”

Vic makes two

Debbie Cody has 2015 Punchestown Festival Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Killultagh Vic (1/2 favourite) in rare form at present and the now 13-year-old doubled his seasonal tally with a facile victory in the four-runner ladies open lightweight.

In the hands of the winning handler’s daughter Emily, Killultagh Vic was left at the head of affairs when clear leader Cabin Hill unseated Alice McCarthy five from home, and the pair readily drew clear from three out to account for the returning Dubai Dandy by 25 lengths.

“He’s a pleasure to have anything to do with. I’d love to have a few more like him to be honest. Emily and himself have built up a great partnership. I was delighted to see the rain earlier as he does enjoy soft ground,” said the winning-handler.

HAVING registered his 100th winner between the flags at Ballyknock earlier in the week, Eoin O’Brien was on the mark in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden when steering Meetmeatthearch (5/1 - 7/1) to success.

Few, if any, of his previous winners will have given O’Brien as much satisfaction as the winner is handled by his father Vincent and sports the silks of his wife Marie. The giant-sized Meetmeatthearch, who suffered interference when an encouraging fifth on his debut at Ballynoe, enjoyed a dream run up the inner on the run to the straight before displaying good reserves of stamina late on to oblige by three lengths from Road To The Weir.

“The experience this horse had from his first run stood to him today. He’s a real laid-back horse that will come on again from that. We’ll enjoy today but he could be sold if the right offer comes along,” remarked the successful rider.

Land Jet (P. Maher): Previously trained by Joseph O’Brien, this Jet Away gelding caught the eye on his debut for the Peter Maher yard when keeping on well from off the pace to take third in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Placed in two handicap hurdles prior to this effort, he should come forward from this and can make his mark next time.

Oisín has pony power

A TYPICALLY action-packed day of events for those in attendance at the North Clare venue also included the fourth running of the hands and heels pony race which was held after the closing confined maiden.

Here, 11 runners went to post and in a thrilling conclusion, Woody partnered by Oisín Considine claimed the spoils when seeing off the challenge of Damon Troy’s mount Benny with Maeve Coffey taking third spot aboard Sparkles.