THERE was some stellar fare at Saturday’s rescheduled Waterford Foxhounds fixture at Curraghmore and, on an afternoon that witnessed the largest number of runners at a meeting so far this season with 96 participants, 21-year-old James Coffey from Midleton experienced a never to be forgotten day as he partnered a first winner aboard his grandfather Donal Coffey’s Miss Penny Copper in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Miss Penny Copper (4/1 - 5/1), having pulled up on her initial career outing at Ballyknock last month, made smooth progress to lead before the penultimate of the 13 obstacles.

While running green on the approach to the final fence, the six-year-old that was homebred by octogenarian owner/trainer’s daughter Paula Coffey-Mulcahy was in no mood to be denied as she duly accounted for the promising Back In The Bay by two and a half lengths. The duo returned four lengths clear of the third-placed newcomer Elafonisi.

James Coffey actually works with Terence O’Brien while Miss Penny Copper, a daughter of Champs Elysees with a chaser’s physique who is a sister to a dual track winner in Copper Nation, could now contest the mares’ pointers bumper at Tipperary next month.

Handler

Owner/trainer Jim O’Neill, elder brother to point-to-point champion rider Barry O’Neill, celebrated his initial success as a handler with newcomer El Cairos (4/1 - 6/1) in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The No Risk At All-sired El Cairos, whose dam is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning chaser Hinterland, made smooth progress with Sean Staples from the rear of the field to lead after two out.

While the recent Monksgrange debut third I Ain’t Your Mate rallied to tremendous effect from the last, there was still a neck between the duo in what was the day’s closest finish.

“He’s the first horse that I’ve had by No Risk At All and he worked very well on the Old Vic recently,” remarked Ballindaggin-based O’Neill of El Cairos, one of eight horses that he has in harness at present.

The Ross O’Sullivan-trained Howya Luveen (evens favourite) supplemented her recent Belclare maiden success in the mares’ winners’ of one, much to the dismay of the five bookmakers present.

The grey Howya Luveen, owned and bred by the Downtown Syndicate of Monroes’ Bar in Galway city, made all the running and she responded to Lee Shanahan’s urgings before the last to dismiss Lucky Mahler by two and a half lengths.

“Howya Luveen won well in Belclare and she’s a mare that has improved from every run,” said handler O’Sullivan, who was also effusive in his praise of rider Shanahan.

“She’s a fine mare that wants nice ground and she could now go for a mares’ chase.”

Doyles on the ball with double doubles

THE meeting was dominated by the Doyle brothers, Sean and Donnchadh. The pair saddled two winners apiece and Sean opened his account with Eastern Shores (3/1 - 7/2) in the four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Eastern Shores, having slipped up on her career debut at Ballyknock last month, made her way past Pismo Beach before the last and there was then very little to separate the pair when the latter exited here.

The Jet Away-sired Eastern Shores, whose dam is a half-sister to Grade 2 novice hurdle winner Alpha Ridge from the same family as Regina Dracones and Malina Girl, was then left clear to beat Good Girl Kathleen by one and a half lengths in a race that saw a little under five lengths cover the first four home.

Eastern Shores’ rider Jamie Scallan also partnered Sean Doyle’s remaining winner Moon Rocket (3/1 - 7/2), likewise representing the Monbeg Partnership, in the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Moon Rocket stepped forwards from his sixth-placed Borris House debut effort last month, as having always been positioned towards the head of affairs, he unleashed a devastating turn of foot after two out that saw him come home five lengths clear of Limerick Star.

The Doyen-sired Moon Rocket, whose dam is an own-sister to Barry Connell’s Cheltenham Festival winner Tully East, was incidentally acquired for €37,000 at last year’s Goffs Arkle sale.

Doyle double

Donnchadh Doyle meanwhile combined with the title-chasing Rob James to collect both divisions of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, the pair kicking off with newcomer Disguisedlimit (evens - 5/4 favourite) in the first division.

The Mahler-sired Disguisedlimit, whose dam is a half-sister to Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth, made his way to the fore after three out and he duly defeated newcomer Ashtown Park by five lengths.

Disguisedlimit, a €70,000 Tattersalls Ireland Derby sale graduate, was due to be offered at this past Thursday’s Cheltenham sale.

Jarrive De Mee (5/2 - 3/1), also sporting the familiar Monbeg Syndicate silks, vindicated the promise of his fourth-placed debut effort at Boulta in late November by bringing up the Donnchadh Doyle/Rob James brace in the second division.

Jarrive De Mee, a son of Authorized that traces back to Grade 1 chase winner Gentleman De Mee, led or disputed the running until edging into a commanding four-length advantage from the second-last.

This was eroded by runner-up Milforce in the closing stages with just a half-length ultimately separating the pair.

EDDIE Power, who recorded his initial success as a trainer on the racecourse courtesy of Shiroccosmagicjem in Monday evening’s Tramore maiden hunters’ chase, experienced an excellent start to the weekend by landing the second division of the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden for novice riders’ with Val Venus.

The Turtulla November debut third Val Venus (6/4 – evens favourite), a half-brother to Hidden Cyclone who is owned by Joan Condron from Tullamore, came from off the pace with Ross Sugrue to assume command approaching the final fence to deny Tory Hill by a length.

Cathal Sheehan from Britway (19) brought his career tally to three aboard Truckers Cruising in the first division of this same concluding contest.

Truckers Cruising (4/1 – 5/1), trained by long-standing points supporter Batt O’Connell for the Conna Enclosure Syndicate, returned to the form that saw him hold definite prospects when falling two out on his Tallow debut last term by making all the running to dispense with Coffeys Forge by 12 lengths. It’s possible that the Flemensfirth-sired six-year-old Truckers Cruising could now try his luck over hurdles.

Pismo Beach (P.A. King): A half-sister to three track winners, this daughter of Pour Moi had every chance in second when falling at the last in the four-year-old mares’ maiden. She finished a respectable fourth behind Echoing Silence at Ballycahane and appeals as one who could do well over hurdles.