The father and son duo of Sean and Noel McParlan registered their second win of the season with the P.J. McCartan-owned Lagan Island in the Millar McCall Wylie Solicitors Winner Of Two.
The seven-year-old son of Trans Island who won his maiden at Loughanmore last Easter when trained by Daniel Fitzsimmons, had made a winning reappearance at Moira in December and picked up the running from the final fence where he saw off the challenge of La Braye by two and a half lengths.
A delighted Sean McParlan commented, “That’s three wins in a row now and he seemed to do that well. He’s still improving and could go for a hunter chase next”.
There was another family success in the opening race of the day, the Albert Bartlett five-year-old mares’ maiden as the Larne-based yard of Stuart Crawford’s claimed victory with Millarville in the hands of his brother Ben.
Out of a half-sister to multiple winners Mendip Express and Sheer Genius, the daughter of Court Cave was purchased by the Crawford Brothers for €5,000 at the Tattersall’s Ireland Derby sale in 2016. Millarville had been prominent throughout and was challenged by Rosesn'Raspberries at the last who then jinxed towards the parade ring after the fence and parted company with Mark O'Hare leaving Jumbo Davis to fill the runner-up spot.
Ben Crawford stated, “She’s a lovely wee mare and she enjoyed her job. She loves jumping and made up ground at each fence. She will probably head to the sales now”.
The Dermot McLoughlin-trained Thunderosa, who was running a big race at Ballinaboola in November when exiting at the penultimate fence, gained a deserved victory in the JP Corry six-year-old-and-upwards geldings maiden.
Carrying the colours of Fidelma Toole who purchased the son of Westerners after his debut run, the Larry O’Carroll-ridden winner progressed to lead from the halfway point and was never headed where he held onto a one length success over Commanding Spirit.
“We bought him before Christmas and we were hoping to run him at Tatt’s but had to come here but thankfully it’s all worked out well. He seemed to have plenty more to give if needed and he’s tough. I will speak with Fidelma (Toole) to see where we will go next”, reported his winning hander.
Carrying the colours of Fidelma Toole who purchased the son of Westerners after his debut run, the Larry O’Carroll-ridden winner progressed to lead from the halfway point and was never headed where he held onto a one length success over Commanding Spirit.
“We bought him before Christmas and we were hoping to run him at Tatt’s but had to come here but thankfully it’s all worked out well. He seemed to have plenty more to give if needed and he’s tough. I will speak with Fidelma (Toole) to see where we will go next”, reported his winning hander.
The CBRE five-year-old geldings’ maiden went the way of the Maurice Phelan-trained The Dabbler for his owner and breeder, Michael Heery on what was his first start between the flags.
The son of Presenting who is out of the 12-time winner Lirfox, made steady progress throughout under Jamie Codd and produced a challenge before the final fence where he was badly hampered by a loose horse. Staying on gamely in the closing stages, The Dabbler won by six lengths at the finish over Broadway Star.
“He did that well. We have always liked him and he’s a lovely horse. We were hoping to run him in Tattersalls before Christmas but that was cancelled but thankfully it worked out today. He might head to the sales now”, remarked the winning handler.
The PKF FPM Accountants Open saw five out of the six declared runners representing Northern-based handlers with the David Christie-trained Eddies Miracle claiming his second win of the season which is now his sixth win to date. The Ray Nicholas-owned gelding, who won at Ballinaboola in November, was prominent throughout under Barry O’Neill and produced a challenge at the final fence where he lead on the run-in to see off Quiet Account by two lengths.
“Barry said he won that snuggly enough. He was run tight for room at the last but picked up well on the run-in to win easily. He took a very bad fall in the hunter chase at Cork and he will come on for the run today. He will run again in points and in a hunter chase as long as the ground isn’t too soft “reported a delighted winning handler.
“Barry said he won that snuggly enough. He was run tight for room at the last but picked up well on the run-in to win easily. He took a very bad fall in the hunter chase at Cork and he will come on for the run today. He will run again in points and in a hunter chase as long as the ground isn’t too soft “reported a delighted winning handler.
21-year-old Patrick McGuigan enjoyed his second win of his career aboard the Ann Hunter-owned and trained, City Break in the Alpha Concrete six-year-old-upwards mares’ maiden.
The daughter of Getaway who was also providing her handler with her second winner as a trainer following Overtheedge’s win at Maralin in 2015, was purchased by her current connections for €2,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland August sale in 2015. The six-year-old produced a challenge at the penultimate fence where she kept on well in the closing stages to just get up to lead on the line over Drumconnor Girl.
An elated Hunter stated “She’s a nice mare and kept staying on. We will keep her pointing if she isn’t sold”.
