FOLLOWING a two-year hiatus owing to Covid-19, the East Galway Hunt’s fixture at Stowlin made a welcome return last Sunday and 17-year-old Josh Berry maintained his terrific run of form aboard his mother Shirley’s A Rated (1/1 - 6/4) when claiming the featured novice riders’ open lightweight at the fixture.

Making every post a winning one aboard the Flemensfirth gelding, St. Peters College student Berry gave his mount the office on touching down two out and the 11-year-old soon forged clear to account for Some Are Lucky, who had also chased him home at Tattersalls last month, by seven lengths.

“The horse is in terrific form and looked as good as ever there today. Josh and himself have built up a fantastic partnership and hopefully they can keep it going now. We’ll look towards the novice riders’ opens at Punchestown and Tralee next,” said the winning rider’s father and successful handler John Berry of the duo who were recording their fourth victory of the season.

Breakthrough

Hannah Phillips is another young pilot who has enjoyed a breakthrough season and the Fethard, Co Tipperary native partnered her second career winner aboard her father Michael’s Miss Benjo (8/1 - 10/1) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Last January’s Turtulla runner-up Miss Benjo benefitted from a well-timed ride from Ms Phillips when coming from well off the pace to reel in recent Stradbally second Imperial Lough in the dying strides and oblige by a head in what was the closest finish of the day.

“This mare has been there or thereabouts for us all season so it’s great she finally got her day. I wasn’t sure if I’d get there to be honest but in fairness she really put her head down and tried for me. She’ll probably head on to a winners race now,” reflected Ms Phillips.

Favourite backers got it right in the concluding six-year-old and upwards maiden as the Rob James-ridden Ultimate Optimist (1/1 favourite) obliged on his third start for the Donnchadh Doyle yard.

Unlucky to come to grief when travelling well in Monksgrange in March, the imposing bay edged ahead after three from home and ultimately came home at his ease some six lengths ahead of Mac Suibhne.

“This lad was only doing a half-speed under me when he came down on his last run, so we really fancied him today. He was in a different class to the rest there.

“He’s a lovely model and will be even better again after a summer’s grass,” observed James who was registering his 32nd victory of the term.

THERE was further brief respite for the seven bookmakers present when Moodofthemoment (6-10/1) sprang a surprise in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden to complete a double on the day for long-term allies Harley Dunne and Denis Murphy.

Atoning for pulling-up on his most recent start at Ballynoe in March, the Shantou gelding was sent to the head of affairs from flag fall by Dunne and only had Great Samourai for company on the run to the penultimate obstacle.

However, it was here that Rob James’ mount exited, paving the way for Moodofthemoment to score by a distance from sole other finisher Haggard.

“We’d been expecting a performance like that from him on his first start in the autumn but in hindsight my horses were out of form then. Thankfully, we’ve got them back right in the meantime and he was very good today. He’ll be sold now,” outlined Murphy.

The opening four-year-old mares’ maiden had seen Dunne and Murphy initiate their brace as Take No Chances (3-7/2) confirmed the promise of her first career start at Loughanmore just over a fortnight previously. Taking over from the leading Threeunderthree on the run to the straight, the Milan youngster found plenty from two out to thwart the persistent challenge of favourite Southern Babylon by a length.

Murphy, who acquired the daughter of six-time track winner Coscorrig for €20,000 last year, commented: “This mare had a great first run when beaten less than five lengths.She stepped forward from that and I think she’s one we’ll be hearing plenty more about in future.”

OUT of luck with Southern Babylon in the opener, Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe enjoyed better fortune in the following four-year-old geldings’ maiden as their debutant Chapeau De Soleil (9/4 - 2/1 favourite) ran out a taking winner of the seven-runner contest.

Disputing in the early stages with Isocrate, the Soldier Of Fortune gelding took sole charge before the second from home and displayed a nice turn of foot after the last to cosily contain John Nallens’s fellow first-timer Minella Diamond by five lengths.

“That was a lovely start to his career. We’ve always felt he was smart. You’d love the way he quickened on the flat and hit the line. He’ll head on to an upcoming sale now,” commented Bowe of Chapeau De Soleil, who he purchased for €50,000 as an unbroken store.

Horse to Follow

Southern Babylon (C. Bowe) This daughter of Workforce, who realised €37,000 last year, made a most pleasing start to her career when chasing home Take No Chances in the younger mares maiden. The bay didn’t enjoy the clearest of passages late on and she should easily go one better before developing into a track winner in due course.