Clare handler Joe Ryan, who started off last season's Kim Muir Chase winner Missed Approach in points as a four-year-old in 2014, seems to have another smart on his hands in the form of debut winner Adrimel who took the Goffs UK Aintree Sale four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The French-bred disputed the running until leading from the fifth fence and he then injected fresh pace into the race from five-out.
The winning son of Tirwanako duly coasted clear from the second last under James Hannon to beat the only other finisher Firak by eight lengths.
"He's a really nice horse and he will probably now go to the Goffs UK sale at Aintree next month," said Ryan of his son Josh's charge, an €11,000 graduate of last year's Tattersalls Ireland August sale.
The Helen O'Connor-owned/trained/bred Little Token sprung a mild surprise on her initial career outing in the opening Foley Timber & Radley Engineering four-year-old mares’ maiden under Shane Baragry.
The Milan-sired mare went to the front before the last and she stayed on dourly in the closing stages to eclipse Castlegrace Paddy's half-sister Castlegrace Rose by a length.
The handler, who only has Little Token in harness at her Conna base, said: "This filly is the first foal out of her dam Special Token, a four-time winner. She's a lovely sort and she will probably now go for a maiden hurdle next."
She also reported that Special Token is due to foal in the very near future to Mahler.
Colin Bowe and Barry O'Neill combined for a double on the day and they opened their account courtesy of Ballymorris Rose, a daughter of the seven-time track winner Askanna, in the Gain Horse Feeds, Dairygold & Denis Condon five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
The daughter of Getaway who was pulled up on her only previous start at Aghabullogue a little over two months earlier, moved closer from off the pace four-out and she went to the front before the final fence.
She then held on valiantly to beat the patiently-ridden Natural Fit by a neck in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.
"She's a weak sort that has just taken a fair bit of time. We will go for a winners’ race next and we will might leave her off until next season after that," said Bowe of the winner, who is owned and bred by John Asple from Ballyhouge near Bree.
The Village Inn, winner of three saw Fort Worth Texas complete the Colin Bowe/Barry O'Neill brace when recording her third success of the season.
The patiently-ridden five-year-old moved ever closer from three-out and she eased past Mytermsoryours on the approach to the final fence to score by a widening four lengths, with the pair being the only finishers from the five runners that set out.
"She's not overly big, but she's a lovely mare and we will keep tipping away in points with her," said Bowe of Fort Worth Texas, representing Monaghan-based owner Leo McArdle.
The absent Declan Queally continued his terrific season as a handler by sending out Robaddan to make a triumphant career debut in the Jimmy Linehan Transport, The Swallow Inn & McCarthy Insurance five-year-old geldings’ maiden under Michael Sweeney.
The Flemensfirth gelding always travelled well and he took up the running after the third last. Whilst fellow first-timer Ask Politely arrived to hold every chance on the approach to the final fence, the bay stylishly asserted on the flat to oblige by one and a half lengths in the colours of breeder Con Hickey from Killeagh.
Queally's father and namesake said: “He will probably be sold now, but if not he will go for a winners’ of one."
The Local Bars - Cotters, Ahernes & Butchers five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden saw Misty Adage make her initial start for Jimmy Mangan a victorious one when recording an authoritative success here in the hands of Johnny Hurley.
The grey, who finished a fine third to Ballybough Nora on her final foray at Curraghmore last term, was always merely in cruise-control and she assumed command on the run to the final fence to beat last month's Knockanard runner-up Fanahans Well by four lengths.
"A faster gallop would have suited her better and she will now go for the Gain Mares' Final at Ballynoe in two weeks’ time," said Mangan of Misty Adage, owned and bred by Michael O'Brien.
