Longhouse Music brought her seasonal tally to five, when taking the ITM ladies open in the colours of John Duggan.
Ridden by Lisa O’Neill on this occasion, the ten-year-old was never too far away from the pace before battling hard in the home straight to see off the strong challenge of Gwencily Berbas.
Ultimately the daughter of Gamut passed the post over a length in front of the runner up, however this fantastic servant was well in command close home.
“She is a great mare and will keep going in point-to-points. We will look for a mares open going forward,” said Tipperary handler Sam Curling of the now 10-time winner.
A return to good underfoot conditions saw Go To Court bounce right back to form in the Bobby Fitzgerald & Powers of Tullahought six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
The daughter of Court Cave was a fine second at Lingstown on her penultimate start, before finding ground conditions too soft at Boulta.
Having her fourth start here, the six-year-old made most of the running before picking up gamely in the closing stages to come home six lengths in front of Uppertown Poppie.
It proved a significant milestone for jockey Pa King who was riding his 100th winner between the flags.
“We are lucky to have Pa riding for us, he comes in once a week. We will either sell this mare or run her in a bumper,” said winning owner/handler Willie Murphy.
Karens Gift made a very favourable impression when taking the ITBA five-year-old mares’ maiden in the hands of Tiernan Roche.
The Martina Power - owned mare was having just her second start, following up on a fine debut when third at Tattersalls back in a December.
The five-year-old made every post a winning one, before staying on gamely to record a two and a half-length success from another decent mare in the form of Dime A Dozen.
“I think she is very smart. She is very quick over her fences and will make her a lovely mare over hurdles for somebody,” said Wexford handler John Walsh.
The Tattersalls Ireland five-year-old geldings’ maiden saw Derek O’Connor make his only ride at the fixture a winning one, before leaving to ride in the bumper at Naas.
Avoid The Master ran out a three-length winner of this contest, having raced prominently throughout, before hitting the front jumping the penultimate obstacle.
Owned by the Three Dudes Syndicate, the son of Getaway is a €32,000 Landrover sale graduate and was getting off the mark at just the fourth time of asking having finished a fine third at Boulta on his last start.
Winning handler Robert Tyner was on hand to say: “Derek thought he was a different horses today, he has grown up a lot and won easily. Like all of these horses he is for sale.”
Handler Caroline McCaldin made the long trip down from up north worthwhile when Samurai Cracker took the concluding Dick Frisby six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden for novice riders’ in the colours her husband Alan McCaldin.
Having shown plenty of promise on his last two starts, the Nikki Sell- bred son of Mr Dinos was given a fine waiting ride by Paddy McGuigan, before making relentless progress to take up the advantage on the run to the last. My Oakclahome threw down a strong challenge at this point, but ultimately finished two lengths adrift of the winner at the line. The successful handler said “He has had a couple of good runs, jumping is what he does the best. Paddy gave him an absolute peach of a ride. He might to the sales or we could go for a winners race.”
Declan Queally is enjoying a terrific run of form as a handler, training his 11th winner of the season in the Friends of Kilmoganny Hunt mares winner of one.
Ask Heather was following up on her maiden success at Lisronagh back in November, when recording a comprehensive victory here in the hands of Queally himself.
Having raced in second for much of the contest, the seven-year-old picked up the running turning in before quickening up smartly to win.
Kiera Royale filled the runner up spot, finishing eight lengths adrift having made much of the running.
“It was a nice performance, she is owned by Michael O’Donovan from Bartlemy, who also owns Cloudy Morning with me. We will probably go to Ballybodock with her now,” said the Waterford rider/handler.
