A DENSE fog hampered visibility throughout the afternoon at Fairwood Park, where Admiral Stewart ran out the most impressive winner of the session in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

A €78,000 Goffs Land Rover Sale purchase, the Colin Bowe-trained Soldier Of Fortune bay was an encouraging fourth on his debut at Ballindenisk last month.

Sent off a well-supported favourite (3/1 – 6/4 favourite) under Barry O’Neill, the Milestone Bloodstock-owned victor made all and readily increased his advantage before the last, coming home six lengths to the good.

“Barry said he was a lovely horse after the last day, and he told me that he thought he’d win today,” Bowe revealed. “He is a big, honest horse and had loads left. He is a staying type.”

Slowly-run

O’Neill had to settle for the runner-up berth aboard Creegh Native in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, with this slowly run affair going the way of Class Award (3/1 – 4/1).

Trained by Michael Murphy, the Mahler seven-year-old attempted to make all under Darragh Higgins but looked destined for minor honours when headed by the eventual runner-up after two out.

To his credit, the Redbridge Stables-owned victor rallied gamely when ridden, and regained the lead in the closing stages, going on to prevail by a neck.

“All our horses were a bit under the weather for the autumn campaign, but they are healthy again now,” Murphy explained. “It’s great to get it and he’ll probably go for a winners’ of one now.”

Ross Sugrue registered his sixth success when partnering Kyle Valley (4/1 – 5/2 joint-favourite) to victory in the winner of one for novice riders.

In the care of local Shillelagh handler Sean Osborne, the six-year-old was following up on her maiden success at Borris last month. Sent straight to the front, the Doyen bay made all and battled on gamely in the closing stages to hold off the late surge of Ryehill, with three quarters of a length between them at the line.

“We knew the ground wouldn’t bother her, but she was up against mainly boys today. We thought she mightn’t have a turn of foot to catch them, so we let her go out in front,” Micheal Doyle, who owns the winner with his wife Caroline, commented.

“Sean will decide where she goes next, and it’s great to get another win out of her.”

In the colours of the Danestown Racing Partnership, Arverne (8/1) made a successful transition to the point-to-point field in the open, providing 21-year-old Kentstown, Co Meath native Jordan Kidd with his first career success.

A three-time winner on the track, the Gavin Cromwell-trained nine-year-old made all and kept on well in the closing stages, holding off the late surge of Stranger Danger by half a length.

Returning from a lengthy absence, Some Man was expected to register a 12th win between the flags in this six-runner affair, however he faded before the last and eventually finished fourth.

“I’m with Gavin three days a week and with Ian Donoghue the rest,” the winning rider remarked.

“The idea of me riding is to get a feel for how a race is properly run. Down the line I want to be a trainer. I’m 6’ 2” and too tall to be a jockey, so I don’t know how long I will get out of it.

“Nobody seemed to want to go on, so I let him bowl along in front as I knew he was fit.”

While Arverne made all, Johnny Barry adopted more patient tactics on Locken Lady (6/4 – 7/4) in the opening five-year-old mares’ maiden.

Recording a landmark 200th point-to-point success, the popular Co Cork rider settled the Ellmarie Holden-trained debutant in rear. Taking closer order before two out, the Snow Sky bay jumped the final fence in a close third, keeping on best from there to prevail by half-a-length in the colours of Holden’s mother, Catherine.

John Fitzpatrick, representing the successful Ballyhale handler, said: “She did a savage piece of work when schooling at Borris a few weeks ago and Johnny (Barry) said that she’d win a point-to-point hard held and that’s what she did.

“Ellmarie had her half-brother Geraldo and before he won, I bought this one for small money as a foal out of a field in Wexford. She will probably go to Cheltenham now for the sales and I think we have something special again.”

THERE was joy and sadness in equal measure after the win of Elusive Touch (7/2 – 6/1) in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Owned and trained by Paddy Quinlan, it was a poignant success for the Ballymore Eustace handler, who sadly lost his beloved daughter Dani just last month.

A first win for Monasterevin native Christine Worrell, the long-absent Elusive Pimpernel nine-year-old led from two out and kept up the gallop all the way to the line, seeing off the effort of Robin Des Boston by a length.

“We were expecting her to run well, but it was only Christine’s third ride in a point-to-point. She rides very well though,” Quinlan reported. “Hopefully she’ll stay sound now and she’ll go for the farmers’ race at Punchestown [the Bishopscourt Cup]. We’ve been third in it twice and I’d love to win it.”

Worrell added: “I’m 20 and currently studying Agricultural Science in Waterford. I ride out at Martin Brassil’s as much as I can and also go to Cian Collins.

“I started off with Ian McCarthy and he has been a huge help to me.”

Horse to follow

Ryehill (Ross O’Sullivan): On his first start since February, the son of Mahler went down narrowly to a race-fit rival. Yet to finish outside the first two in four starts to date, the Oldtown victor should come on plenty for this effort and will be a threat to all wherever he turns up next.