THE Matthew Flynn O’Connor-owned and trained Tommy Pickles lit up Sunday’s well-attended Muskerry Foxhounds meeting at Aghabullogue by spreadeagling the opposition in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Boise Idaho and Mister Loolah took the eight runners along, with Jukebox Johnny also in close proximity as the eventual winner, who finished fifth on his only start last season at Ballycahane, was covered up in mid-division by Brian Lawless.

The eye was, however, drawn to Tommy Pickles (2/1 - 11/4 favourite) on the run to the penultimate of the 16 obstacles, as he moved ever-closer on the inner and he surged to the front approaching the bend on the turn in to the home straight well before the final fence.

It was all relatively plain sailing thereafter, as the winning son of Shirocco, a €75,000 Derby sale graduate that’s out of a black type winning own-sister (Carrig Millie) to former Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup hero Strown Flow, bounded clear to beat newcomer Jukebox Johnny by a widening 10 and a half lengths. Boise Idaho, meanwhile, more than acquitted himself by returning a further half-length adrift in third.

Flynn O’Connor wasn’t present, as he was on honeymoon in Dubai with wife Eimear. His sister Abbie reported on Tommy Pickles, also a brother to three track winners: “He’s a horse that has grown a lot since he ran in the spring. He has done really well from his summer’s break and will now be for sale.”

Serenade on tune

Proceedings commenced with the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden, a race won in 2009 by Michael Winters’ subsequent dual Grade 3 winning performer For Bill, and Alan Ahern’s newcomer Spring Serenade (3/1) created a favourable impression by coming home as she pleased in the hands of Johnny Barry.

Waiting tactics once again worked the oracle as the Kingston Hill-sired Spring Serenade, the only six-year-old in the eight-runner field, edged ever-closer from three out.

The victorious grey, an own-sister to Jamie Owen’s six-time UK track winner My Gift To You, struck the front well before the final fence en route to putting 10 lengths between herself and last season’s Inchydoney runner-up Arctic Beag.

“She’s a grand mare, but I thought that she might not be fit enough coming here,” reported Ahern of Spring Serenade, also a half-sister to Nigel Twiston Davies’ Grade 2-placed novice hurdler Ballyarthur and the first horse that he has trained for owner/breeder Michael Moloney.

Moonlight Man all heart

The biggest field of the afternoon of 11 runners lined up for the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden and the Brian Hassett-trained The Moonlight Man (3/1 - 4/1) vindicated the promise of his third-placed debut effort at Tattersalls last month by recording a battling success under Eoin Mahon.

The Moonlight Man set off in front and he led until overtaken by Jasmin Des Blins off the bend well before the last. The lead then changed a few more times until the eventual winner, who actually then dropped to fifth briefly at one stage, produced a terrific leap at the last and he made his way back to the front once more early on the flat.

He then held on grimly, as Cold Old Fire closed with every stride as the line loomed to deny Ray Hurley’s charge by a head, with newcomer Sir Benduff posting an effort rich in promise by securing the minor honours, a further two and a half lengths adrift.

The Moonlight Man represents Gary Kelly, whose previous racehorse was subsequent Aintree Grand National winner Noble Yeats, when the son of Yeats finished second on debut for Hassett’s father Donie in a Ballindenisk four-year-old geldings’ maiden in December 2019.

THE Marie Harding-trained Hunt Away (4/6 favourite) returned to a rousing reception, following his comfortable success under Mikey O’Connor in the winners-of-two. This wasn’t at all surprising though, as two of the gelding’s owners, Tony Wilson and Brendan Healy, who along with Maurice O’Connor comprise the winning Open The Boot Partnership, live in Aghabullogue.

Hunt Away, who won a competitive Dromahane four-year-old maiden on his previous start in November, was always merely lobbing along and he picked up the running two out to beat Trooper Carton by four lengths with a 20-length break back to the third-placed Forest Rock.

“He didn’t really like that ground and he’s a better horse on nicer ground. He’s a class horse and will probably stay pointing for the present, but he will be a lovely horse for the track,” said Miss Harding of the Sans Frontieres-sired Hunt Away.

A perfect start

Ballinhassig-based handler Padraig Butler, who had four runners throughout the course of the afternoon, kept his supporters happy by sending out Nolans Rocco (4/1 - 5/1) to collect the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Nolans Rocco, the only newcomer in the race, got into a lovely rhythm for Darragh Allen and she picked up the running well before the final fence. Whilst then a shade deliberate at the last, she still readily defeated the only other finisher Paddyskatie by a length and a half in the colours of David Brennan from Peddlers Cross.

MY Best Valentine (5/2 - 3/1) indicated that she’s set for another productive campaign by posting a typically brave front-running performance to claim victory under regular partner Stefan Tobin in the novice riders’ open.

The Daniel O’Brien-owned/trained seven-year-old My Best Valentine, who won three points last season, went to the head of affairs at the sixth fence and she was challenged briefly by King Alex between the final two obstacles. My Best Valentine, however, was clearly getting the better of the argument approaching the last. She lost some momentum though here, but runner-up Ciel De Neige wasn’t able to capitalise, as he was still a length adrift at the line with King Alex returning a further three lengths adrift in third.

Tornado Flyer, winner of the 2021 King George VI Chase for Willie Mullins, was sent off favourite on his return from in excess of a two-year absence. Now under the care of Paul Hennessy, he was beaten from the third-last and was pulled up after two out.

Two-horse handler O’Brien, who hails from Tallow, explained that the Malinas-sired My Best Valentine will more than likely run in another open next month.

Mister Loolah (Alexander Ott): This newcomer by Sageburg led until overtaken well before the last in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. He then faded in the closing stages to finish fourth, but this was a cracking debut performance and he should be well worth following over the coming weeks.