THE Ormond Foxhounds hosted two-days of racing at Ballingarry to close the 2023/’24 season.

The opening contest of the day saw a maximum field line-up as 15 four-year-old mares headed to post.

The Great Nudie (5/2 - 4/1) annihilated the opposition as she came home 18 lengths clear of runner-up Shes All Pride, providing the opening leg of a treble for champion handler Colin Bowe, and the initial leg of a double for Bertie Finn.

This daughter of Wings Of Eagles, owned by Leo McArdle, impressed on debut as she asserted with great authority from two out, displaying a most impressive turn of foot.

Winning handler Colin Bowe commented: “She loved the bit of nice ground and she quickened so impressively. I’m delighted to give Bertie a winner as he works very hard all year.”

Stuntman upgrades his performance

Stuntman Steve (5/1) brought up the second leg of the Bowe-Finn double to land the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Having failed to complete in his first five starts in points, this son of Doyen showed huge improvement as he joined the long-time leader and eventual runner-up City Slippers on the run to the final obstacle. From here, he stayed on resolutely to the line to score by two lengths for the Milestone Bloodstock Syndicate.

A €12,000 purchase, he was unlucky on a couple of occasions at the beginning of his career and looked to lose his way, so this could be seen as a step in the right direction.

Carter provides the hat-trick

The final leg of Bowe’s treble came courtesy of Thomas Coleman’s Haggard (5/1- 4/1) and Sophie Carter.

This seven-year-old son of Soldier Of Fortune had shed his maiden tag at Ballinaboola in February and he doubled his career tally with a first success against fellow winners.

Carter sent her mount forward to take up the running from the sixth fence and they asserted into the straight to win decisively by 12 lengths to claim the scalp of the evens favourite Manlikemike in the process.

Carter stated: “I jumped off to be handy, but they were going quite slow, so I pushed on from the sixth and he loves being in front.

“He winged every fence, and he stayed on well. He’s been a great horse for the yard this season. That was my fourth winner – I’m delighted.”

Electrifying win

TO The Wire (3/1) made a quick re-appearance following his fourth-place on debut at Stradbally a week earlier to land the four-year-old auction maiden.

He took a pleasing step forward, put in a good jump two out and soon took up the running, quickening smartly on the run to the final obstacle.

Good ground clearly holds no fears for this son of Mahler, a €17,000 July store purchase, as the Turbine Syndicate-owned horse showed a nice turn of foot to defeat Rouban in the hands of Barry Stone.

“I ran him last Sunday when Shane O’Rourke rode him and he said he blew up three out and I said he’d win next week in Ballingarry,” handler Gary Murphy said.

“Unfortunately, Skippy couldn’t ride him as his boss had runners in Tralee, but Barry gave him a great ride. Frances Whelan and I bought him in the July sale. We loved him all along, but he got a set back at Christmas. He did it very well today and will hopefully be sold.”

Silence gets redemption

The Bill Durkan-trained Awkward Silence (6/1) had been pulled-up quickly on debut at Toomebridge when stumbling earlier this month, but she made amends in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.

She put in a smart display of jumping and got on terms two out, battling gamely to the line in the hands of Patrick Gleeson to score by a length from Mandalay Maggie. Owned by Richard Lombard she was a €7,000 Goffs acquisition in 2022 proving herself as a tough, staying sort.

Six horses headed to post in the open contest where Focus Point (4/6 favourite) justified his odd-on starting price for the Hyde family.

He set off in his customary front-running style to record his seventh point success, holding off the challenge of Midnight Maestro.

The eight-year-old son of Robin Des Champs started off this season defeating a high-class field in Tinahely -however was unable to add to this until getting his preferred good ground.

Timmy Hyde stated: “He’s been running a little bit in and out the last while. But he was in great form today, he nearly must tell you when he’s in good form. Dan [Hyde] gave him a lovely ride, he jumped super and jumping is his asset. A decision is to be made if he will go to Listowel or to the field for the summer.”

Cotter wins the Conquest

SEVENTEEN-year-old Shane Cotter has enjoyed a textbook start to his career, having recorded his first success between the flags in December on the Billy Codd-trained Special Prep at Lingstown and since then he has become a regular presence in the winner’s enclosure thanks to the support of his boss Denis Murphy and Fermanagh handler David Christie.

Entering this final weekend of the season tied with Dara McGill in the Under-21 title, it was Muphy’s Roaring Conquest (3/1 joint-favourite) that edged him in front by justifying favouritism in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

A €34,000 store purchase, this son of Doyen travelled strongly in behind the leaders, and quickened in a manner that none of his rivals could live with from the back of two out to win eased down by 15 lengths from Monsieur Le Fuzz.

Horse to Follow

Rouban (L. J. Murphy): He made smooth progress to two out but could not quicken with this winner; however, he did stay on well closing on the run to the line to be denied by two and a half lengths. This was a pleasing first completion.