ALL roads led to Ratoath on Sunday for the Louth Hunt sanctioned Tattersalls meeting which saw handler Colin Bowe unleash Tareze (5/1 - 6/1) to record a visually impressive success in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Tareze, who is a sharp homebred daughter of Kayf Tara, was waited with in mid-division throughout the nine-runner contest under an ultra-confident Bertin Finn.

With the early strong pace taking its toll, Finn saw an opportunity to make stealthy progress on the run from the third last as they breezed into fourth position.

Although it was the turn of foot that she produced after the second last which really impressed, she did keep on strongly in the home straight to lead approaching the last.

The Milestone Bloodstock-owned mare looked to have shrugged off the game €100,000 acquisition The Great Unknown over the last, only for a new challenger to arrive in the shape of the rapidly closing favourite Sharp Object.

Tareze showed great battling tenacity and found more under Finn’s urgings on the run-in, and it was one and a half lengths back to the eye-catching Pat Turley-trained Sharp Object in second.

“We were expecting a big run from her, as she has been showing us plenty at home,” Finn said of his 10th career win. “They went strong so we sat in and she jumped very well, and then quickened up very smartly for me.”

Moira McElligott kept herself within one winner of Maxine O’Sullivan in the race for the ladies’ title with a bloodless victory aboard Pour Me A Double (6/1 - 8/1) in the winners’ of one event.

The son of Pour Moi, who is handled by McElligott’s husband Willie Murphy, stepped up markedly on his first attempt in winners’ company when pulling-up at Ballycrystal back in February, as the bay gelding always raced in a handy position.

Pour Me A Double travelled well to the third last, and the race was soon put to bed after the second last with a motionless McElligott yet to ask him to extend. An eased-down 14 lengths was the winning margin at the line to Ballydesmond.

“He had his issues early on in his career, but we seem to have ironed them out now. He impressed me today there,” remarked Murphy of the gelding who sported the silks of The Dashing Dames Syndicate.

Wexford based handler Liam Kenny sent out the commanding winner of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden in the shape of Toss Of A Coin (3/1 - 4/1), ridden to victory by his son, James.

The imposing son of Flemensfirth ran a stormer on his third career start when second to the useful Park The Giant at Curraghmore a week earlier, and he was sent off as the second favourite to progress further.

The Patrick Redmond-owned victor always travelled ominously well as he tracked the pace-setting leader Mondeau throughout.

He found an extra gear after the second last to shoot into a three-length advantage and with a tidy jump at the last, he pulled nine lengths clear of How And Ever who caught the eye on his debut.

“He won very easy; we really fancied him coming here today,” the winning handler said. “He relished the ground out there. He travelled so well through his race, and he put it to bed very quickly in the straight.”

CColline Fleurie justifies favouritism for Curling

SAM CURLING recorded his 21st winner of the season as Colline Fleurie (5/2 - 7/4 favourite) battled gamely to strike in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

The well supported daughter of Hillstar was always up with the pace under Brian Lawless and, with a faster jump than the leader Lucky Venture at the third last, she managed to hit the front travelling smartly.

The Correna Bowe-owned mare faced a persistent challenger in Lucky Venture and was eyeballed approaching the home straight, with the pair inseparable at the last.

The lightly-raced five-year-old picked up well under Lawless on the run-in, with a growing three lengths back to the gallant Lucky Venture at the finish.

Carlow handler and owner Tracey Gilmour enjoyed her first victory this term as the Come To Me (5/4 - 1/1 favourite), who was last seen when chasing home Cheltenham Foxhunter’s fourth Rockys Howya at Dromahane, battled like a demon to oblige in the open.

The son of Spanish Moon disputed the majority of the running with Solomn Grundy and, although battling his way to lead before the last under a strong Charlie Mullins, he faced challengers on both sides with Step Up Son and Down The Highway on his girths.

The 11-year-old battled gamely to the line under a terrific ride to hold on by a neck over Step Up Son with Down The Highway a head back in third.

“Tracey told me he just stays all day and to make it a test. I knew when I was headed at the second last that he would find plenty for me coming up the straight,” Mullins said having registered his first success between the flags.

Sifaka bounces back to win older maiden for Christie

DAVID CHRISTIE brought his tally of winners for the season to 17 courtesy of the improving Sifaka (5/1 - 4/1) who showed a likeable attitude to take the older geldings’ maiden.

The son of Presenting, who was just touched off at Oldcastle a week earlier when beaten a short head by Brilliant Corners, had ground to make up with the trail-blazing leader and well supported Pure Decent from the third last.

However, the grey stayed on with purpose under Alex Harvey and, having taken a share of the lead as the last approached, he picked up again on the flat to defeat Pure Decent by a length and a half.

Horse To Follow

Pure Decent (P. M. Verling): The well supported son of Shantou made it a decent test in the older maiden on his debut, and looked the likely winner at the last. Ultimately outstayed on the run-in, he can make amends next time.