THE East Antrim Harriers meeting at Loughanmore on Saturday saw all seven favourites meet with defeat, creating the somewhat unique occasion with seven different handlers and riders celebrating victories.

The opening contest was the four-year-old mares’ maiden, which attracted 18 declarations necessitating a division. Nine mares headed to post in the opening division.

Blue Eyed Girl (6/1) improved from her fourth-placed effort at Toomebridge, as the daughter of Blue Bresil put the experience to good use jumping and travelling with professionalism, as is to be expected coming from the Patrick Turley operation.

The £28,000 Goffs acquisition picked up into the home straight, where Girlfromtheglenwho was the only rival that could keep tabs on her.

Blue Eyed Girl, in the colours of the handlers’ wife Mary produced a superior leap at the final fence when holding a slight advantage, and galloped on gamely to win by three and a half lengths.

“She finished fourth at Toomebridge and Decky [Lavery] wasn’t hard on her,” Turley commented. “He came back in and said she would win the next day and he was right; he gave her a great ride. She will now go to the sales.”

Previous experience

The second division also saw previous experience come to the fore, as Donnchadh Doyle-trained Glory Be To Sea (5/1) defeated well-supported newcomer Torpille Dagrostis to oblige by three and a half lengths.

This victorious daughter of Affinisea had pulled up on debut at Loughrea last May, however the €28,000 Tattersalls purchase was given a patient ride by Rob James, having been positioned towards the rear for the majority of the contest, before she made smooth progress on the final circuit.

She stamped her superiority over her rivals by quickening smartly into the straight in the colours of the Monbeg Syndicate.

“She’s a lovely filly,” James noted. “We couldn’t gauge her last year as they just weren’t right, but she picked up and did it well. I probably hit the front a little too soon, as I was getting towed away into it lovely and we winged a couple of fences landing in the lead.”

Big field

The four-year-old geldings’ maiden attracted the largest field of the day with 12 runners. Andrew Latta’s Race To Base (4/1 - 6/1) lowered the colours of the favourite Rathkenny, but this pair had been well held by Major League when that rival crashed out at the final obstacle, while holding a comfortable advantage.

A €28,000 Tattersalls acquisition, Race To Base is out of a sister to the 10-time winning Real Milan.

He battled upsides the eventual runner-up Rathkenny and stayed on gamely to the line to score by a short-head from fellow newcomer.

“That was a very good race on paper, he’s a lovely horse, we really liked him last year,” Jack Hendrick remarked of the Charles Latta-owned debutant.

“The summer really helped him and Andrew had him in great shape for today. He was a bit green at times to get down and galloping, but he won well in the end.”

REIGNING champion handler Colin Bowe unleashed the newcomer Spadestep (4-6/1) to land the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Bowe also trained the gelding’s dam Glibin to win five races on the track, whilst also starting out his half-brother Tommy’s Oscar, who went on to win 12 races including at Grade 2 level.

This Milestone Bloodstock-owned son of Jukebox Jury travelled well under Barry O’Neill, before showcasing a smart turn of foot to score by three lengths from a fast-finishing Frankie Fitz.

Kimjoy (7/2) made a successful debut in the pointing fields in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

With track experience on her side, she was given a well-timed ride by Stephen Connor.

Positioned in rear, she produced an assured display of jumping, delivering her challenge at the final obstacle, before staying on resolutely to win by half a length from the joint-favourite Lovebite.

Winning handler Stuart Crawford commented of the Trish Hassett-owned mare: “We thought she may have needed the run, but the steady pace and her bit of track experience stood to her.

“She has a nice turn of foot, so it couldn’t have worked out better.”

THERE is nothing quite like winning at home and landowner Wilson Dennison was the toast of many of those present as Jim The Wolf (9/4 - 2/1), a progressive son of Joshua Tree, built upon his maiden victory at Toomebridge two weeks earlier to secure the winners of two contest.

To the rear of the field throughout, Oran McGill produced this five-year-old with a perfectly-timed challenge to pick off rivals on the run to the final obstacle and assert on the flat from Trasna Na Pairce by a notable 13 lengths.

Winning handler Caroline McCaldin stated: “Oran gave him a brilliant ride. He’s a fabulous rider, so I’m delighted for him and the horse did it very well.”

Lucky track

Loughanmore has proven to be a lucky track for Eoin Powell, as he recorded his third career success, two of which have come at this venue.

Hudson Duster (5/1) was having his second career start for the Liam Lennon stable, and the six-year-old son of Famous Name kicked on from the back of three out, where despite being briefly headed at the final obstacle, he battled gamely to get back up on the line and score by a head over Second Subaltern.

“I have Liam to thank, he told me to go for home early on him, so I asked him to pick up from the back of three out and he toughed it right to the line,” Powell said of the winning ride aboard his father Patrick’s six-year-old.

Horse to Follow:

Torpille Dagrostis (G. Quinn): This Cima De Triomphe mare was prominent throughout and just lacked the extra gear of the winner on the run to the final obstacle. However, she jumped and travelled with great professionalism posting a most commendable debut performance. It should take a smart one to beat her the next day.