GALE-FORCE winds and heavy showers did not dampen the quality of action at Umma House, where plenty of talented individuals were on display for its annual fixture.

A field of eight mares headed to post for the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden, with three debutantes among the line-up.

It was, however, the most experienced of the eight, Clody Diamond (6/4 - 2/1 favourite), who ran out a comfortable winner for last season’s champion rider Rob James.

Trained by James for owner Brendan Murphy, this daughter of Diamond Boy was having her fourth career start and second so far of the season, as she went one better than her most recent effort in Toomebridge a fortnight earlier.

She pulled herself to a share of the lead approaching five out, but was restrained and held onto before appearing with a comfortable five-length lead when approaching the second last, as she went on to defeat Jenny France by nine lengths.

“She won on the bridle to be honest,” James said. “Her jumping was bringing me everywhere and she sprinted to the line. She could go to the track next, or she might be sold.”

Champagne problems

The Roisin Hickey-owned and trained Champagne Avenue (2/1) provided Rob James with a double on the afternoon, as this consistent son of Champs Elysees scored at the sixth time of asking.

The winner was part of a line of three jumping four out, when making a bad mistake and dropping back to be a clear third. To his credit, he battled back gamely to appear with a four-length advantage approaching the second last and stayed on powerfully.

“He’s a nice horse, we always held him in high regard, and I don’t know how it has taken him this long to win a maiden,” the winning handler’s husband Thomand O’Mara said.

“He has just been unlucky, he was probably going to win in Boulta when he fell. He’s a nice horse, he definitely has a future.”

Potential star

Champion handler Colin Bowe unleashed what looked like another potential star in the shape of Skylight Hustle (6/4 - 5/2 favourite), who ran out a cosy winner of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

An imposing son of Jukebox Jury, the €100,000 Derby sale purchase, travelled with ease at the head of affairs on his debut. The gallop that he maintained throughout had many of his rivals toiling before the long run to two out, from where he quickened again on the run to the last.

Eased down at the line, the Barry O’Neill-ridden Milestone Bloodstock-owned gelding still had three lengths to spare over fellow newcomer Reckless Spending.

“He is a lovely horse, he would be one of my nicer ones,” Bowe said. “I love the sire, he’s a very nice horse, and that was a very good performance.”

LOCAL Westmeath handler Simon Cavanagh enjoyed a successful afternoon when sending out Milan Forth (6/4 favourite) to land the five-year-old geldings’ maiden in what was a pillar-to-post success.

Following a fine effort to finish second on his seasonal reappearance in Toomebridge earlier in the month, favourite backers had very little to worry about as the winner travelled ominously well at the head of affairs under Kevin Healy.

Taking lengths out of the opposition at each obstacle, he ran out an eight-length victor carrying Cavanagh’s own silks.

The five-year-old mares’ maiden went the way of Lynsey Larue (10/1), who produced a career-best performance for the John Walsh yard in the silks of his wife Dympna.

Having failed to hit the frame in her first four outings, this daughter of Elusive Pimpernel clearly benefited from the sounder underfoot conditions. She had many in behind under a hard drive on the long run to two out and quickened impressively to win by eight lengths over A Pleasant Surprise.

“The ground was key to her today, she needs that nice ground, all season the ground didn’t suit,” Walsh said. “She’s a right good mare and well able to jump. We bought her privately in Kilkenny from Michael Murphy.”

THE Edward O’Grady-trained Priory Park (5/2) laid down a solid marker in the open division for the season ahead, as he stamped his class on the field of five runners to land the spoils in the open for novice riders under Eoin Staples.

Carrying the famous green and gold silks of J.P. McManus, the eight-year-old son of Dylan Thomas, who had a career high rating of 123 over fences on the track, was held up in mid-division for much of the contest before creeping into the action on the run to three out.

The winner took up a share of the lead, before quickening smartly on the run to the line to run out a cosy six-length winner.

“He was going forward and I didn’t want to disappoint him. He jumped savage the whole way and I was able to fill him up everywhere,” Staples said.

“He kicked clear on the run to two out and he winged the last again. He stamped his class on these probably as he was entitled to. He was there today fresh, and he is only an eight-year-old. He has the makings of a good open horse throughout the year.”

Horse to Follow:

Reckless Spending (J. M. Fogarty): This son of Sholokhov was a €68,000 Arkle sale graduate and produced a fine debut to finish a close second to a smart individual.

With natural improvement to come, he should easily make amends next time out.