A winner over the Lingstown bank course last March twelve months and a recent run at Punchestown was enough to give Vital Island the edge and a two lengths success in today’s Neville Hotels Open Lightweight Race at Lingstown, Tomhaggard.

Ridden by Mark Scallan, Cleariestown, who has enjoyed many good spins over the bank obstacles gained his first victory in the race for owner/handler Richard O’Keeffe, Newtown, Taghmon, Vital Island “loves the banks,” according to his handler and will be aimed at the cross-country chase at Cheltenham in December.

In testing ground conditions the maiden race for four year olds was run at a cracking pace with victory going to Ocean Drifter, ridden by Rob James for handler Donnchadh Doyle and the Monbeg Partnership, who are enjoying a most successful autumn season.

Half an hour later and Donnchadh’s brother, Sean Doyle produced a short-head winner of the maiden race for five year old mares when Ulterior Motives, ridden by Jamie Scallan, Cleariestown, got the better of Robert Tector’s first runner as a handler Jackie Daniels (Rob James) in a pulsating finish. “Delighted with the mare. She stayed on well, Will go for ‘a winners’ next,” was the comments of the handler afterwards.

Luke Murphy, Inch, teamed up with Denis Murphy (no relation), Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, in the maiden race for five year old geldings where Beatthebullet scored impressively by two and a half lengths.

The Winner of Two race went to Mallow in Cork when Super Citizen put in a good performance for a half length victory for owner/breeder Alurie O’Sullivan, handler Eugene O’Sullivan and rider Maxine O’Sullivan. Out of eight runners in this race three were ridden by female riders and they all finished in the first three – Maxine, O’Sullivan (1^st), Margaret McElligott (2^nd) and Aileen O’Sullivan (3^rd); now there’s one for the table quiz!

The final race was for six year olds and upwards and a first winner for Carlow rider Jack Foley, (19), on Acceptable Risk for his retaining stable of Ellen Doyle at Coolgarrow, Enniscorthy.

As usual the Killinick Harriers had everything in order for the day and there was a fine attendance in dry overhead conditions.

Racing concluded with the Handlers Charity Race in aid of Mental Health Charity in association with ASK where 19 riders were cheered on by a large crowd over a two miles flat race circuit of Lingstown.

The obstacles were bypassed, which is just as well because there was quite a strong pace on throughout the race with JD Moore coming home in first place followed by Andy Pierce, Denis Murphy and Denis O’Brien. Many of the ‘fitness rusty’ veterans were a bit nervous setting out but they settled quickly and enjoyed the experience immensely, much to the satisfaction of the organisers who wish to thank all who participated in the race and giving their time and experience to assist a worthy cause.