Davy McCammon's colours, carried with distinction in recent times by Killyglen, got a successful airing at the Westmeath & Longford Harriers point-to-point at Killashee on Sunday courtesy of the Stuart Crawford trained and Ben Crawford ridden Inverglen.
This six-year-old, a grand big son of Flemensfirth, was making his debut in the geldings' maiden and when the favourite Dontmissajot departed with a circuit to go, the door was left open for something else to prevail. From a family of winners, Inverglen did well at the first time of asking to see off Drum Bay and Share Wood.
Ben, well-known through his Irish Field column and his brother Stuart, a former top eventing rider, were the men to follow at the weekend as they had a double at Kirkistown the previous day. Ballynagour was impressive in the four-year-old up there whilst the brace was completed by Call Box in the five-year-old geldings' maiden. His task was eased by the departures of Robbie Kaydee and Jacks Grey at the business end.
Meanwhile also at Kirkistown, The Flying Pencil's success for Gordon Elliott in the winners of three heralded the retirement of his rider Simon McGonagle who has 94 wins to his credit 'between the flags.'
The following afternoon back at Killashee, Iheardu, made his first start for Gordon Elliott a winning one by landing the opening youngsters maiden under Kevin Power. Of course Power later went on to win the bumper at Navan on Catcherinscratcher for Eddie Hales.
Catcherinscratcher's sire, Catcher In The Rye was also responsible for a winner at Killashee as former track racer Dunroe Boy prevailed under Richie Rohan.
Bourbon Ellie did well for a mare not long out of maiden company to take the open lightweight at the County Longford venue for David Kelly. This win in a well-contested event was providing rider Darragh Lambe with a first success in the plate.
Top hunter chaser Kilty Storm returned to the fray with a win under Declan Queally at Dromahane whilst Mickey Blue Eyes continued his progression for Liam Burke and Mikey O'Connor in the winners of two.
O'Connor rode and trained another winner too, Our Island in the five-year-old geldings' maiden. The other O'Connor, Derek, had a double as well, on Eugene O'Sullivan's Giveabobback in the confined and on Sean Aherne's Bargyman, coming off a twenty month break in the concluding older horses' maiden.
Michael Hourigan's yard is in good form and he had another winner when the John Thomas McNamara partnered Friendly Society beat Back In Focus (a son of Bob Back out of that very good racemare, Dun Belle) by a neck in the five-year-old geldings' maiden.
Lowparklad took the four-year-old at Lingstown for Willie Codd and his brother Jamie and the local handler jocked up Mikey Fogarty in race two aboard Only Witness. Here Jamie was on Trevor Horgan's Cantlow and he was unlucky to be beaten by Willie's Only Witness, going down by half a length. Cantlow was hampered at the second last.
Caddy Man landed a good winners contest for Andy Slattery and Roger Quinlan.
Lord Nellerie may have been odds-on for the open over the banks course but reappearing quickly from his Punchestown effort the previous weekend proved beyond him as Gothic Love reversed form from three weeks previous.
Jamie Codd sent his supporters away happy by getting Aidan Fitzgerald's quite well-bred debutant Mag Walsh home by six lengths in the concluding confined mares maiden.
