Road to glory...

The Paul Power trained Gillespie Road created a very favourable impression when taking Saturday last’s 4yr old auction maiden at the Streamstown Harriers point-to-point staged at Durrow, just outside Tullamore.

The son of El Salvador was partnered here by Barry Stone in this six runner contest and on the heavy ground he was content to watch on from the rear for the most part before making gradual progress to lead on the level after the second last. From here Gillespie Road (5/4-3-5/4) was always containing the effort of the gallant runner-up Three Zambezi's (5/4-2), the mount of Tiernan Power Roche, with 1L separating them at the death.

"He is the very best horse I ever put through my hands," said successful trainer Paul Power. "He is a very simple horse to train, a gent, he is some horse to jump and is very quick, I will talk there now with his owner Francis Connolly (Galway) and see where we go next but I would imagine he will be sold".

Maxine O’Sullivan made a winning return to pointing action after having a couple of nice spins at Cheltenham, as she claimed the mares winners of one, on board the Ian McCarthy trained Eyes Off Annie (ev-6/4-5/4) who just got up in the dying strides to score by a head and in doing so was recording her initial winner for McCarthy.

The recent Punchestown maiden winner went to the wings of the last locked in battle with the Rob James partnered Millie Supreme (5/4-6/4), it was nip and tuck up the home straight between the two and it was literally in the last stride that the 6yr old daughter of Presenting, Eyes Off Annie, poked her head in front to score by a head with a yawning gap of 15L back to the only other finisher of six starters, Mad Mag (2-3), the mount of Sean Staples.

Kildare based trainer Ian McCarthy was on hand to greet his winner and of her he said: "Look that was super, to be honest I did very little with her after the last day but she was fresh and well within herself so I decided to run, we will tip on to Mallow next and then Punchestown all going well".

Sunday last was red letter day for 18yr old Michael Sharpe from Naas as he partnered his first winner in the saddle on board 6/1 shot Asphalt Cowboy who was winning at the seventh time of asking, but was having his first start here for trainer Sonny Carey.

The son of Getaway who was a €50k store faced six rivals here in this 6yr old and upwards geldings maiden contest and having looked the first beaten with four to jump he stayed on resolutely to swoop to the front on the run to the last and once safely over this he went on to eclipse Buster Hall (3-6) and Joey Dunne by 5L.

"I can’t take much credit for this win as I only got the horse out of Colin Bowes ten days ago" said trainer Sonny Carey. "Colin said he would pick one up handy enough and how right he was and he will contest a winners’ race next. Michael came into the yard at aged twelve and said he wanted to be a jockey and he is a pure natural, he is a lad going places, one for the future in my opinion," concluded Carey.

Michael Sharpe says that none of his immediate family has any interest in racing, but from a young age he loved horses, he thinks he got it from his granduncle Willie Burke, who rode the Mick Rogers trained Santa Claus to win the 1964 Irish Derby, with Burke deputising for Scobie Beasley.

Disappointingly just three contested the 5yr old geldings’ maiden with victory here going to the Mick Goff trained Whispering Dancer (ev-4/5) and partnered by Mikey Sweeney.

The son of Elusive Pimpernel had been in the frame for all five of his previous starts and he was made work here all the way to the death to land this, battling it out in workmanlike fashion to prevail by half a length from the Jack Hendrick ridden Good Cody (ev-5/4), whose cause was not helped by a poor jump at the last.

Mick Goff was absent on the day but his representative Joe Roberts said: "This lad has been very consistent, he is a fine big horse who took time and will improve again off the back of this, I would imagine he will be sold now after that I would think".

Just like the geldings’ maiden just four contested the 5yr old and upwards mares’ maiden with victory here going to the Barry Stone ridden 7/4 shot Nellies Magic.

Second on her previous start at Comea, the progeny of Doyen was bounced out in front by Stone and giving a display of quick accurate jumping the John Walsh trained Nellies Magic had this race in safe keeping with over a mile to race and she duly obliged by 11L from the John Barry ridden Jolie Maresca (2-9/4).

John Walsh actually made it a quick fire training double as his Cash Cut took the open lightweight, however, his victory came about as a result of a walkover which at this time of the year is a worry going forward.

ONE TO FOLLOW... JOLIE MARESCA (TOM DREAPER)

This daughter of Spanish Moon made her debut here and she shaped very well and despite being beaten 11L she looks well capable of landing a similar contest in time.