Fairyhouse on Wednesday of last week proved a happy hunting ground for Bunratty owner, Mark McDonagh, where his 5-1 chance, Mister Hotelier, ran out a good winner of the opening two-mile maiden hurdle.

Trained down in County Wexford by Colm Murphy, Mister Hotelier was having just his second start over timber having been placed in three bumpers last season and managed to put his head in front here at the seventh attempt.

Grand National-winning jockey, Robbie Power did the steering aboard the son of Beneficial, who displayed a nice turn of foot when forging clear from two out to beat the Ruby Walsh-ridden 5-4 favourite, Sarabad, from the Willie Mullins camp, by a length and three-quarters.

A fine stamp of a horse, Mister Hotelier may well be open to further improvement given a bit of nicer going, as his trainer explained. “We were disappointed when this horse was a well-beaten fourth in a bumper at Punchestown back in November but I think he just wasn’t right that day. We’ll see what the handicapper does with him before making any firm plans and he’s looks the type that would prefer better ground.”

It also proved an afternoon to savour for Clonmel jockey Liz Lalor at the County Meath track, as she paid a welcome return to the number one berth following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Lalor suffered concussion when shipping a heavy fall at a point-to-point in Athlacca last May and only returned to race-riding five weeks ago.

The Tipperary lass was seen at her best here, as she guided her father Dick’s Carrigeen Lonicera to victory in the concluding mares’ bumper.

A point-to-point winner at Killaloe last February, Carrigeen Lonicera went off a well-fancied 9-2 shot here and the daughter of Old Vic didn’t let her supporters down when, having assumed command before the home turn, she galloped on resolutely to beat runner-up Kymin’s Way by two-and-a-half lengths.

The Lalor’s have a tremendous record with their home-bred mares and this latest recruit appears set to make a nice staying chaser in the seasons ahead.

Meanwhile, Sixmilebridge trainer, Denis Quinn felt the wrath of the stewards at Punchestown on Saturday afternoon, where he was fined €2,000 and jockey, Roger Loughran picked up a seven-day ban following the performance of the Garrett Kelly-owned Gallant Oscar in the opening Beginners’ Chase.

Having his first start over fences, the 50-1 shot made some up late ground to finish fourth behind the Jessica Harrington-trained 4-1 winner Madam Bovary but his run attracted the attention of the stewards on duty, who also banned the horse from running for 42 days.

 

McNamara rides 600th point-to-point winner

Croom, County Limerick jockey, John Thomas McNamara is a legend of the point-to-point scene and the now 37-year-old reached another milestone is his glittering career in the saddle when riding his 600th point-to-point winner in the open lightweight at last Sunday’s Kilfeacle, County Tipperary meeting.

The former champion recorded his landmark success when steering the gambled-on former four-time track winner, Montana Slim to victory for County Louth trainer, Michael O’Hare.

Despite being off the track for 809 days, Montana Slim hardened in the ring from 11-2 into 5-2 and the punt was landed with the minimum of fuss.

Sent to the front from flag fall, Montana Slim kept up a relentless gallop all through and was full value for his victory when passing the post 20 lengths to the good over the Edward O’Grady-trained Solstice Knight.

McNamara, who was feted by his weigh room colleagues following Sunday’s success, commented, “I’m thrilled to have ridden my 600th winner. I was stuck on 599 for a while and it’s great to have reached such a figure. I’ve had a wonderful time since I rode my first winner at Askeaton back in the early ’90s and I’ve ridden some very good horses to win a host of big races.”

Riding honours at the Tipperary course went to Jamie Codd, who bagged two winners. The Wexford amateur was quickly on the score sheet when landing the opening five-year-old geldings’ maiden on impressive newcomer, Azorian.

Trained in County Kilkenny by Eoin Griffin, Azorian was supported from 5-2 to even-money favourite and he looked an exciting prospect when readily pulling clear in the closing stages to beat fellow newcomer Sizing Coal by three lengths.

Codd completed his double when teaming up with Midleton, County Cork owner-trainer, Donie Murphy to land the winners-of-three event with 2-1 favourite Bothair Clei.

Derek O’Connor was in action at last Sunday’s Killeagh meeting in East Cork, where the nine-time champion enjoyed a good afternoon when riding three winners.

The Tubber pilot opened his account for the day when successful aboard Robert Tyner’s 5-4 favourite Soaring High in the confined maiden.

Always close to the pace, the winner touched down in front over the final fence and dug deep on the run-in to hold the persistent challenge of She’s Got Grit by two lengths.

An hour later, O’Connor was back in the winner’s enclosure when landing the winners-of-two event under even-money favourite Final Gift.

Trained in Newmarket-on-Fergus by John Costello, Final Gift landed a Dromahane maiden for Costello back in April 2011 and later joined the powerful Paul Nicholls yard in the UK. He had just one outing for the Ditcheat handler when finishing fourth in a novice hurdle at Hereford before rejoining Costello, who now trains the seven-year-old for his mother, Josephine.

The well-backed son of Old Vic certainly had to battle for Sunday’s success as O’Connor was seen at his best when forcing the market leader home to beat Eoin Doyle’s Davy From Milan by three parts of a length. The winner will now embark on a career in the Hunter’s Chase sphere.

O’Connor, whose latest haul leaves him level with Codd on the 23-winner mark in the race for the jockeys’ championship, completed his hat-trick when bringing another strongly fancied sort in 5-4 favourite Cute Court home in front in the concluding second leg of the older geldings’ maiden.

This son of Court Cave, trained in Cork by Denis Ahern, needed all of award-winning O’Connor’s strength to land the day here when edging to the front in the final strides to score by a head.