THERE’s nothing quite like winning at home in front of one’s home crowd and 19-year-old Kieran Power did precisely that at Sunday’s Lismore Harriers meeting at Kilossera outside Dungarvan, by landing the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard his father Edmund Power’s newcomer Knightphase.

Dungarvan teenager Power, whose elder brother Jerome partnered subsequent eight-time British track winner Bushypark to victory at the previous Kilossera meeting back in January 2020, edged Knightphase (5/1 - 11/2) ever closer to the pace from after the third last of the 15 obstacles.

The market leader Canunclecani picked up the running two out from The Jeweller’s Pet, but the victorious son of Sageburg moved closer approaching the final fence.

The eventual winner, whose dam is an own-sister to six-time Cheltenham Festival winning race mare Quevega, powered to the front some 100 yards out to beat Canunclecani by two lengths.

The Jeweller’s Pet meanwhile indicated that he will be winning before long by returning a further one and a half lengths adrift in third.

Edmund Power, who is the Vice-Chairperson of this meeting, presently trains just two horses. He reported of Knightphase: “I bought him off his breeder Denis Hickey as a three-year-old and he’s a horse that still needs to furnish. He will probably now go to the sales.”

Family success

There was another family success in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden as 22-year-old Emily Cody, a third year UCD veterinary student, partnered an eighth career winner aboard her Dunamaggin-based mother Debbie Cody’s Ask The Flick (4/1 - 6/1).

Having pulled up on his career initial outing at Ballindenisk on January 7th, Ask The Flick was bounced out at the head of affairs with Believe That and the pair disputed the running until the former went on from two out.

The patiently-ridden favourite Walk Easy however, was edging ever closer the whole time and he came through to challenge at the last. Walk Easy briefly hit the front after this final fence, but Ask The Flick was in no mood to be denied, and he was always marginally containing his opponent inside the final 100 yards, with a head separating the pair.

The six-year-old, representing the Hugginstown-based Light Syndicate, is now likely to contest a winners’ race.

Gripping finish

Racegoers were treated to yet another gripping finish in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, a race that came complete with a generous €800 bonus to the winning owner courtesy of the INHSC, with the Ray Hurley-trained Lucky Mahler (4/1 - 5/1) narrowly obliging under Eoin O’Brien.

The towering Lucky Mahler, a nine-year who is owned and bred by Bernard O’Mahony from Innishannon, returned to the form that saw her finish second to Rebel Treaty at Inchydoney late last season by making smooth progress to go second behind Minella Soprano before the last.

The lead then changed on two further occasions before Lucky Mahler got on top in the very dying strides to eclipse the consistent Minella Soprano by a head. The pair returned seven lengths clear of the third-placed No Pains No Gains.

Handler Hurley indicated that Lucky Mahler will probably now go for a winners’ race.

Mozzies obliges for favourite fans

DECLAN Queally is experiencing a campaign that can only be described as phenomenal and the Cappagh-based operator brought his seasonal tally to 17 following the scintillating success of the returning Mozzies Sister (4/5 - 4/5 favourite), the only winning favourite of the afternoon, in the opening five-year-old mares’ maiden.

Mozzies Sister, who was under the care of Ciaran Fennessy and still lying a close second when brought down at the final fence on her sole outing last year in the February Lisronagh contest won by Lady Balko, always took the eye in running and she was always in command after throwing a fabulous leap two out.

The winning daughter of Arctic Cosmos, a half-sister to four-time track winner Vee Dancer, then stormed clear to provide 19-year-old James Fennell with a second career success to beat Get Off Your Phone by 12 lengths.

Dairy farmers

It’s likely that Mozzies Sister, now owned by the Just For The Love Of It Syndicate - a group of dairy farmers - will now be prepared for a tilt at the Gain Mares’ Final.

David Kiely, one of the main-stays of this meeting, saddled Fort Henry (7/4 - 2/1) to win the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts’ maiden under Alan O’Sullivan.

The nine-year-old, having just a third career start, stepped forwards from his fifth-placed effort at Boulta in late November by leading from before two out to thwart newcomer Ahanaglogh by a length in the silks of the Sgeal Shee Syndicate.

No stopping Nordener winning run

THE Sam Curling-trained De Nordener (5/2 - 3/1) continued his definite upward trajectory by readily putting his rivals to the sword in a truly-run renewal of the novice riders’ open under regular partner Toni Quail.

De Nordener, having landed a Ballycrystal winners’ contest only the previous Sunday, disputed the running with veteran Dr Robin until going on with four fences remaining.

When the field re-appeared after the third last, De Nordener had raced into a healthy advantage. He was well and truly in command from there on and, whilst somewhat deliberate two out, he forged further clear from this penultimate obstacle to dismiss Plan Of Attack by 28 lengths.

The Jam Man, emitting distress signals from after three out, was the only other finisher a further two and a half lengths adrift in third.

In the absence of handler Curling, who acquired the former J.P. McManus eight-year-old on Daniel Boland’s behalf for £10,500 at last year’s Goffs UK September sale in Doncaster, Quail reported: “I was a bit worried about the ground, but he was great out there.

“He will probably now get a break for a couple of weeks, but his main objective will be the Ladies Cup over the banks at the Punchestown Festival.”

Get Off Your Phone (D P Berry): This daughter of Soldier Of Fortune, bred by former point-to-point champion rider Nicky Dee, made a pleasing return to action in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.

While beaten 12 lengths into second spot by Mozzies Sister, she showed enough to suggest that she will be winning before too long.