Jamie Codd reached a significant milestone in his career, when riding his 900th winner between the flags in the Move Right Therapy six-year-old and upwards maiden.
The Wexford native steered home Pegase Amour in the concluding contest of the day for handler Liam Lennon.
A son of Winged Love, the seven-year-old had been finished on his three previous starts so was not winning out of turn here.
Always to the fore of proceedings in the black and green colours of Joy Wilson, the consistent sort pulled clear from the penultimate fence to return six lengths in front of Bronco Bill.
The winning handler said: “It’s great to get a win on the board with him. I think he could go back to the track, over two and a-half miles, although he could be sold beforehand.”
Susan Scott saw her colours carried to victory in the Jacksons Butcher Shop & Bakery five and six-year-old mares’ maiden, when Angelic Moon ran out a convincing winner under Lar O’Carroll, who rode a double on the day.
The homebred five-year-old posted a brave display from the front, making most of the running before stretching clear in the closing stages to come home six lengths to the good over Brophies Doll.
A daughter of Wolfe Tone, the winner is trained by Sarah Dawson who said: “She is a very genuine mare, who loves her job. She is a brilliant jumper and a relentless galloper. I’m delighted for Susan as she bred the mare herself and I think we will run her in winners’ company now and then possibly go to the track.”
The Echo Boy provided Lar O’Carroll with a quick double when taking the Stonebridge Premium Feeds five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Second on his last two starts, the Dermot McLoughlin-trained gelding was winning at the fifth time of asking.
Sporting the colours of Fidelma Toole, O’Carroll led from the half-way point and survived a mistake at the last to win by a comfortable ten lengths over Royal Drumree.
“I was very impressed with him. He is a lovely horse and really kept finding today. We could head for a winners’ race or go to the track,” said the winning handler.
Warren Ewing looks to have a smart prospect on his hands in the form of Bold Conduct, who took the opening division of the Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden.
Running in the handler’s own colours, the son of Stowaway is a big imposing sort who cost €35,000 as a three-year-old.
Having raced in mid division, the debutant caught the eye travelling very smoothly under Richie Deegan down the back, before staying on gamely in the closing stages to win by over two lengths from Sidi Ismail who filled the runner up spot.
“He is a proper horse and probably as good a horse as I have ever had. We were waiting on the ground and he did it well today. It looked a good race and he will head to the sales now,” said the Antrim handler.
The second division of the Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden produced another impressive winner, in the shape of the Peter Flood-trained Beyond Redemption, who was getting off the mark at the very first time of asking.
Ridden by Jamie Codd, the €40,000 Derby Sale graduate made smooth progress from mid-division before hitting the front on the run to the last, from where he quickened up in good fashion to come home four lengths in front of the runner up, Muckamore.
Flood said: “He has always shown us a lot and we thought he would take a bit of beating coming here today. He will improve for that run and should develop into a nice track horse. He will hopefully head to the Cheltenham sales now.”
The father-and-son combination of handler Sean and rider Noel McParlan joined forces to take the Islandbawn winner of two with Hi Murphy, who was following up on his recent maiden success at Loughbrickland for owner Peter Murphy.
Having raced in mid-division, the five-year-old hit the front on the run to the penultimate obstacle, before staying on gamely to win by two and a-half lengths over the consistent School Lane.
The son of Gamut has now won two of his five starts and the Down handler said: “He is a good horse and I don’t think we have got to the bottom of him yet. I think he will continue pointing and possibly go for a hunter chase.”
Stuart Crawford could have a decent prospect on his hands in the form of Coastal Tiep who took the Glenpatrick Horseboxes open, sporting the Jetmac Syndicate colours.
The French-bred six-year-old is a former Paul Nicholls inmate, who was rated 139 over fences and the Ben Crawford-ridden son of Coastal Path was never too far away from the pace, and barely came off the bridle in the closing stages to win by a cosy length and a-half over Milan Flyer.
“That was a good start as we are still getting to know him. He was just ticking over there and he looks a high-class sort. We will hopefully go down the hunter chase route, but he is only a six-year-old so we have plenty of options,” said the winning handler.
