THERE was some competitive fare at Sunday’s Golden Vale Foxhounds fixture at Turtulla and the Paul Power-trained newcomer Alzurs Thunder posted a taking debut success by landing the four-year-old geldings’ maiden in the hands of Barry Stone.

Dr Pep was responsible for the generous pace in this truly-run contest, but the eye was always drawn to well-supported Alzurs Thunder (5/1 – 7/2) and he moved past Dr Pep after two out.

The victorious son of Affinisea then threw the faster jump at the last and the €8,000 graduate of last year’s Goffs Arkle sale then asserted on the flat to see off Sam Curling’s gallant pacesetter by two and a half lengths.

The pair, meanwhile, returned some eight lengths clear of the third-placed Sky And Sand in a race that saw six out of the 10 runners completing the course.

“We were pretty bullish coming here, as he worked very well in a schooling bumper at Monksgrange a few weeks ago. He will probably now be sold,” reported handler Power of his mother Bride’s Alzurs Thunder, a mid-May foal, whose track-winning dam is a half-sister to Monalee and Monty’s Star.

Consistency is key

Pat Doyle’s City Slippers (3/1 - 4/1) attained due reward for his consistency, by landing an eventful renewal of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the afternoon with 12 runners. Itsaworkinmaniam set out with the intention of making all here, when falling two out.

City Slippers, who finished third on his previous two forays on consecutive weekends at Curraghmore and Lisronagh, was the one to take advantage as the victorious French-bred stayed on strongly for talented 5lb-claimer David Doyle to account for Jimmy K by six lengths in the colours of Jenny Hunt from Mahon Bridge in Co Waterford.

THE Edward O’Grady-trained Priory Park (evens - 13/8 favourite) continued his upward trajectory by recording his third straight success of the campaign, following authoritative victories at Umma House and Rathcannon, in the novice riders’ open.

Priory Park, a former 121-rated hurdler that had the class to win a 28-runner handicap hurdle over two and a half miles at the 2021 Leopardstown Christmas festival, always travelled well in third spot for regular partner Eoin Staples, as Jay Bee Why mostly led from Ramillies. The son of Dylan Thomas surged past runner-up Ramillies, winner of this same race last season, before two out to score by a comprehensive five lengths.

O’Grady remarked of his charge, who represents J.P. McManus: “Priory Park is having a really good time in points. We’ll stick to points with him for the moment, but he could also run in that hunters’ chase at Down Royal over Christmas.”

Denis Ahern, who started off the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River in points, struck with ex-hurdler Bellachamps (5/1 - 7/1) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Bellachamps, who finished a creditable sixth on her hunt racing debut at Curraghmore last month, edged ever closer from half-way and she picked up the running for Michael Kenneally after six out.

Having to be ridden along in the lead from after four out, Bellachamps was still travelling marginally stronger than the pursuing Beacon Storm when erring at the last. With Beacon Storm also none too clever here, the daughter of Champs Elysees duly defeated her by three lengths in the silks of her trainer’s wife, Norah. Ahern reported: “She lost her way last year, but she’s a different mare now.”

ELLEN Doyle sent out the Baltimore Stables Syndicate-owned newcomer Porte Jaune (3/1 - 4/1) to win a dramatic renewal of the four-year-old mares’ maiden with Brian Dunleavy.

Maribeth and Princess Milania took the runners along, until Porte Jaune moved ever-closer, only for Maribeth to unseat her rider on the bend after the fourth-last, having sustained interference. With Princess Milania also having endured a far from trouble-free passage, Porte Jaune picked up the running before three out and, with Princess Milania exiting at the second-last, the 2022 Fairyhouse July sale graduate accounted for the only other finisher Contrary Mary by 20 lengths.

Jimmy Kelly’s Planet Neptune (2/1 - 9/4 favourite) returned to the coveted number one slot in the INHSC five-year-old and upwards maiden, much to the chagrin of the eight bookmakers present.

In a race that was confined to runners that are trained by handlers, who have not sent out 10 winners and that also came with a €1,000 bonus to the winning owner, Planet Neptune made all the running with Darragh Allen and he fought off the valiant challenge of runner-up Itaintmebabe from two out to score by three lengths. The recent Tattersalls third, Planet Neptune was providing Gary Daly from Fermoy, who is extremely well-known in bowling circles, with an initial success as an owner.

Roxboro River (Miss M. Harding): This embryonic chasing type by Ol’ Man River stepped forwards from his recent sixth-placed debut effort at Rathcannon by finishing third in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. He wasn’t aided by two notable errors inside the final half-mile and this half-brother to three track winners, including Warren Greatrex’s former 132-rated hurdler Star Of Lanka, should easily win his maiden after Christmas.