Plenty to keep the crowds happy as the tempo of season quickens

Last weekend was the best of the season so far, a sign the season is gaining momentum. There was good competitive action at all three fixtures, healthy field-sizes, good crowds, and plenty of horses who look capable of making an impact on the track in due course, including a number going to the sales at Cheltenham on Friday.

We started in the north at Loughbrickland, and the local Hunt Committee deserves a lot of credit. I’m told the track was in great order when it was set up early in the week, but then the weather deteriorated to such an extent it put the meeting in jeopardy. It was a borderline decision. Full mark to the organisers for persisting and they were rewarded with a big attendance. The northern followers are very devoted.

Conditions were very testing, and that probably worked in favour of Derby in the four-year-old maiden. The Denis Murphy-trained gelding had run twice, finishing third on both occasions, at Monksgrange last season and at Loughrea last month. The experience of those runs was very evident as Jamie Codd rode him to a 12-length win from Rathhill, a newcomer I rode for Wilson Dennison and Colin McKeever. Derby has a high cruising speed and was clearly at home on the ground.