THERE was some cracking racing at Saturday’s North Down Foxhounds fixture at Kirkistown, a venue which belatedly staged its open fixture of the season following two cancellations in the autumn.

On an afternoon that saw just 40 runners, it was the Caroline McCaldin-trained Gorthill (6/1 - 7/1) who initiated the opening leg of a double for rider Noel McParlan as he overcame a 244-day lay-off to destroy his opposition in a hotly contested open.

Jay Bee Why once again put down a valiant effort in defeat following on from his second-place finish behind the former Grade 1-winner Battleoverdoyen at Tyrella.

He chased this winner around the home bend, however never quite got on terms, and in the end was beaten 10 len-gths.

The victorious eight-year-old, a 2023 Downpatrick maiden hunter chase winner, jumped and travelled well, disputing the running throughout, and this son of Rail Link, owned by McCaldin’s husband Alan, quickened away in great fashion from the back of the penultimate fence, putting the rest of his rivals to the sword around the home bend.

Despite putting in an awkward jump at the last he still won in very convincing fashion, clocking the fastest time of the day on his debut appearance in open company.

McCaldin was saddling her fourth winner of the season and indicated that this progressive son of Rail Link will contest another open in upcoming weeks.

Match

The second leg of McParlan’s double came in a match contest, with only two heading to post in the mares’ winners’ of two, where the Gerald Quinn-trained Voleur De Terres (2/1), a maiden winner at Toomebridge, at the beginning of the season, came out on top overturning the short-priced favourite Peggy’s Rock, who was turned around quickly following her defeat of De Nordener just six days earlier.

Tracking their only rival from the off, McParlan asked his mount to extend from the penultimate fence, and the daughter of Ocovango picked up well to power clear of her sole opponent to score by 30 lengths.

This six-year-old mare, owned by Robbie Armstrong, extended McParlan’s lead in the northern region jockeys’ title with his eighth victory of the campaign, and Quinn indicated that another mares’ winners’ race in the weeks to come was next on the agenda for her.

Goff off the mark

The opening contest of the day went the way of Karma Police (6/1 - 7/1), giving Wexford handler Mick Goff his first four-year-old maiden success of the new year.

In a race that went off at a blistering gallop, Mikey Sweeney’s patient tactics were well rewarded in the stamina test as he picked up the pieces as the field of five was steadily whittled down to just two in the final half-mile.

Their chief rival, Knockduff, had jumped well from the front but came under pressure when joined by the winning son of It’s Gino on the home bend, who gamely stayed on to record a comprehensive six-length success in the colours of Goff’s wife, Catriona. Bought out of France as a foal this winner, Karma Police will head to the upcoming sales.

PADDY Turley unleashed another smart newcomer to take the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with the Declan Lavery-owned and ridden It’s Hard To Know (4/1 - 5/1).

A €10,000 Tattersalls Ireland July sale purchase in 2022, this son of Malinas tracked the leaders, and he was always travelling with purpose when a good jump three out brought him on terms.

A strong turn of foot from here saw him easily kick clear from a tightly-trouped field to defeat Gold Help My by four lengths.

“He’s a very nice horse, I was impressed by the way he picked up from the back of the last and he will now head to the sales,” Turley commented. There was further local success in the form of the Brian Hamilton-trained Taxus Baccata (5/1 - 6/1) who made virtually all to take the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden under Alex Harvey.

The Cian Collins-trained Roses All The Way threw down a late challenge at the back of the last to briefly head the winning daughter of Califet, however she picked up and battled back gamely to score by a length.

“It was great for her owner Thomas [Massey] to get his first winner, he bred this mare and she was running well on her last outing at Tyrella when coming down four out.

“I thought Alex gave her a great ride here. She will hopefully head back to Tyrella in three weeks’ time for the hunt winners’ race,” Hamilton said.

FOLLOWING the earlier success of Voleur De Terres, Victor Tango brought up a double on the day for Ocovango when the newcomer made up for his bleated debut in the six-year-old upwards’ maiden under Oran McGill.

Trained by his breeder Noel Kelly and owned by his wife Shauna, this seven-year-old made an impressive start to his career.

He had taken the eye travelling well as he made a forward move from four out, and his jumping certainly stood to him as he quickened away with great authority to win by 13 lengths from fellow newcomer and the similarly Ocovango-sired Glencorp, who put in a good performance in defeat despite being unable to quicken with this flashy winner.

Kelly, who has been enjoying a successful season on the racecourse, welcomed his first point winner of the season, as he stated: “I expected a good run from him coming here, he’s always worked well. “He is out of a good mare I trained Charlie’s Vic, who won five times under rules for me including a Grade 3 success in a mares’ novice chase at Limerick many years ago. We will aim him for a winners’ contest now.”

God Help Me (S.R.B Crawford): A French-bred son of Joshua Tree, he put in a smart performance on debut as he tracked the eventual winner It’s Hard To Know throughout. He lost nothing in defeat here and is one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks if he is not sold beforehand.