Little Miss Darsi in step to get Hughes on the scoresheet

Lar O'Carroll took the riding honours with a double at Portrush to bring the curtain down on the season in the northern region.

In bright sunshine and in front of a large crowd – a credit to the organising committee – his first success came in the Porter & Co five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden on the Cian Hughes-trained Little Miss Darsi.

James Dunne’s homebred daughter of Darsi tracked the pace-setting Pottlereaghexpress as part of a two-horse breakaway group, with O’Carroll’s mount returning eight lengths clear of the long-time leader.