AMIDST the glorious sunshine those who attended the Ballymacad fixture at Tattersalls were treated to fine displays by some exciting debutants

Northern raider Mark O’Hare kickstarted proceedings when unleashing what looked a smart prospect in Bygone Era (2/1 - 5/2 co-favourite) in the four-year-old maiden.

A strapping son of Malinas, he was always travelling smoothly at the head of affairs, and he quickened smartly on the run to two out as he had many of his rivals under a hard drive in behind. The task was simplified however with the departure of Kripticjim who fell two out when half a length down.

Although only scoring by one and a quarter-lengths at the line, a final-fence blunder in which he pecked badly on landing cost him significant momentum, as he was forced to rally to fend off the efforts of the staying on Toykyo Tom under Jack Hendrick.

“He’s a big 17.1hh or 17.2hh horse, I didn’t know if I was going to run him this year but the last few months his work has been good so I was happy to let him take his chance today,” O’Hare said of the €8,000 foal purchase who was carrying the colours of his wife Sara.

“He is probably as good a horse as I’ve had around the place in a while. His pedigree took a nice boast too, his dam’s first foal is a blacktype horse now. He could be anything, he’s a fine horse.”

In the action

Champion rider Barry O’Neill didn’t have long to wait to get in on the action when partnering the Colin Bowe-trained Kalo Athena (5/2 co-favourite) to success for owner Patrick Fortune in the five- and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

The complexion of this contest changed dramatically at the final fence when the smooth-travelling debutant Jolissaint, who had led from flag fall and quickened smartly, fell at the last when holding a commanding advantage.

The eventual winner looked well held having been back in third at the time, but to her credit this daughter of Soldier Of Fortune rallied well to chin Magic Day close home to score by a length and a quarter.

O’Neill swiftly sealed a quickfire double when partnering the David Christie-trained Winged Leader (1/2 – 2/5 favourite) to an impressive nine and a half lengths success in the open.

The ever-reliable son of Winged Love recorded his sixth consecutive victory of the season, although he was forced to dig by Jay Bee Why who kept him honest to the home bend before the Jennifer O’Kane and John Hegarty-owned 10-year-old showed his authority approaching the last to power clear up the hill.

“Barry said he felt a little bit tired today,” Christie said. “He’s coming back from his races really well so as long as he keeps doing that we will stay going for the season. He looks tremendous there today in the parade ring and we haven’t had him this good for a long time.”

Latta’s Law earns high praise

ANDREW Latta unleashed a very impressive winner of the five- and six-year-old geldings’ maiden when the debutant Kepler’s Law (3/1 - 2/1 favourite), a son of Jack Hobbs, destroyed his rivals by some 12 lengths.

Always travelling smoothly and jumping with great accuracy throughout, he began to take control of the race on the run to two out and settled proceeding in a matter of strides thereafter, as the £20,000 Goffs UK Store sale purchase returned clear of Denis Murphy’s Jet Light.

“He’s very good, he’s a very big horse and he just took a little bit of time,” Latta said of his father Charles’ winner.

“Everything he does is effortless and I think he’s very good. He will go to the sales now. For a very big horse he has loads of gears.

“Jack said the biggest problem was slowing him down coming to the second last which is always a good sign.”

Latta had been unlucky not to complete a double as it was his Jolissaint that came down at the final fence with victory in the mares’ maiden seemingly within her grasp.

Jet Light’s handler Denis Murphy did go one better in the older maiden for novice riders.

Having posted a nice performance on debut at Lingstown back in November, his Manlikemike (4/6) was sent to post as the red-hot favourite in what looked an excellent opportunity for this son of Mount Nelson to shed his maiden tag.

Having been held up early in proceedings, he made eye catching head way under Shane Cotter on the run to two out to move into a share of the lead.

He soon quickened and stretched his advantage on the run to the last and put the race to bed with little fuss.

“He’s a fine horse he’s just had a few problems with splints and other stuff,” Murphy said.

“We got him right now anyway today. He could be a nice horse he actually has a nice pedigree. He ran very well today and he will win lots of races going forward.

“His work at home was savage, and he is still very green so there’s lots more to come.”

THE concluding contest on the card went the way of the Caroline McCaldin-trained Neo King (evens - 5/4 favourite) who further enhanced his recorded with a quick-fire double at the track in the winners’ of two, having scored here already back in early April.

The son of Coastal Path, owned by Alan McCladin, fenced with particular accuracy to fend off the Colin Bowe-trained Wallace Olinger by four lengths. “He’s a fabulous jumper. He’s a very nice horse and he loves it around here. If he comes out sound tomorrow, we might go for a winners’ of three as he likes this soft ground so we will see what happens,” the winning handler said.

Jolissaint (A. Latta): a striking grey mare, she looked to have the race at her mercy when holding a commanding advantage approaching the last only to fall. The daughter of Kapgarde should easily make amends next time out.