THE clash of the past two seasons’ champion mares in The Forge Hill and La Feline in the mares’ open took centre stage at last Sunday’s Limerick Harriers meeting held at Ballycahane.

Competing a double on the day for her handler Sam Curling, it was La Feline (4/6 - 4/5 favourite) who emerged victorious in the day’s feature.

Patiently ridden by Derek O’Connor, the daughter of Martaline took charge on touching down at the last having reeled in The Forge Hill, who had kicked for home after three out, with recent Cragmore winner Ma Hoey acquitting herself notably well on her initial try in this company to be only half-a-length adrift of the John O’Leary-owned winner at the line.

“This mare is only back riding out a couple of weeks as she got a bad cut on her leg during her last run in Aghabullogue,” reported winning handler Sam Curling. “Carina Bowe, who looks after her, does a fabulous job with her each day and deserves all the credit. We’ll look for something similar for the mare now.”

The Ger Kennedy-bred and owned Baby Shally (2/1 - 3/1) had earlier initiated the Curling brace in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

With Brian Lawless deputising for the momentarily sidelined Derek O’Connor, the Soldier Of Fortune-sired debutante claimed the lead in the 10-runner contest following the exit of Lexie’s Moon three out and thereafter her supporters did not endure too many anxious moments as she cosily dismissed Miss Carlie Fay by five lengths.

“This is a lovely filly. She’ll come on plenty for today as she was only just ready to start. I’ll chat with Ger and Yvonne about our options now but she might be sold,” said Curling of Baby Shally whose dam La Shalak was a six-time scorer for the Kennedy family.

The Harley Dunne-handled and owned Jack N Jones (3/1 - 5/1) similarly commenced her career in the best possible fashion when producing a dominant display to claim the eight-runner four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Sent to the head of affairs shortly before the sixth fence by Tiernan Roche, the sweet-travelling daughter of Jack Hobbs proved much too strong for the always prominent Made For Me in the latter stages to oblige by six lengths.

“Harley has always loved this mare. He felt if she’d have been beaten today we’d have been scratching our heads! She did things easily for Tiernan and will head on to a sale now,” remarked stable representative Declan Byrne of Jack N Jones who realised £3,200 at the 2020 edition of the Goffs UK January Sale.

Jack N Jones is among the initial entries for the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale, which takes place after racing next Thursday.

Easy win for Blaze seals Barry’s double

CONNA amateur Johnny Barry was the only rider to leave the meeting with two winners. The Mark Fahey-handled Kap D’Ange (2/1 - 3/1) provided him with his initial success in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

In a contest which saw the strong-travelling Iamagetaway exit two out when disputing the lead, Kap D’Ange, an excellent third at Oldtown on his debut two weeks previously, showed a likeable attitude when coming a second time on the short run-in to edge out Valgrand by a head in what was the closest finish of the day.

“We think this is a nice horse. He seemed to improve plenty from his first run and he jumped super today. Johnny was very happy with him and I’d imagine the horse will be sold now,” stated Fahey of the bay who sports the silks of Susan Barton.

Handler Eddie Power maintained his 100% strike rate for the season as newcomer Ballela Blaze (3/1 - 4/1) concluded the Barry two-timer when running out a wide-margin winner of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The first horse Co Down breeder and owner Liam Cosgrave has had with Power, Ballela Blaze, who led before the third from home, was clearly in command after that obstacle and, with the tiring Now So Jake coming down at the penultimate fence, the Conduit gelding came home 22 lengths to the good over Cash Or Card.

“This horse ticks all the boxes, he jumps, stays and has a wonderful temperament. He’s been showing us all the signs of a good horse at home and I think he’ll be better again on softer ground,” remarked Power. who dedicated the win to the late Bill Murphy from Dunshaughlin.

O’Neills make no mistake

THE father and son combination of John and Paul O’Neill combined for success in the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden courtesy of Custers Mistake (3/1 - 4/1) who made the breakthrough on his third start in this sphere.

Making the journey from Castlebar, Co Mayo, worthwhile for his owner Michael Walsh, the Zoffany gelding responded well to Paul O’Neill’s urgings in the home straight.

He had seen off the attentions of Dylans Delight when that rival blundered badly and unseated Ross Sugrue at the last, leaving the six-year-old Custers Mistake to take the spoils by two lengths from Leeneys Cross.

“This horse had a lovely run last time in Comea when third. He’s improved and grown in confidence with each run,” said the winning rider. “He enjoyed that bit of better ground today and we’ll look at either a winners’ race or a hunters chase for him next.”

Horse to Follow

Iamagetaway (D. O’Connor): A fine sixth on his debut at Punchestown last month, this chesnut had made smooth progress from the rear to join issue with the eventual winner Kap D’Ange in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden only to come down two out. He should easily develop into a track winner on this evidence.