Milan Sires Trio Of Point-To-Point Maiden Winners

Carrig Hill (6g Milan - Threequarter Moon, by Presenting) continues to improve and gained a maiden victory at Monksgrange on Sunday.

Second last time out at Courtown, the Denis Murphy-trained bay was ridden in midfield by Harley Dunne and crept forward to take second at the third last. Leading two from home, he kept on well to extend his advantage to five lengths on the line.

Owned by Eoin Seymour, Carrig Hill was bred by A. Seymour out of a five-time hurdle winner.

Earlier in the day at Fairyhouse, Islandray (5g Milan - Dewasentah, by Supreme Leader) rallied to justify favoritism in the five-year-old maiden for Colin McKeever and Wilson Dennison.

Jumping well under Roger Quinlan, he led before the third last and battled back as First Revolution did his best to regain the lead, but to no avail. The winning distance was half a length, with a further eight lengths back to the third horse.

Bred by Mary O’Sullivan, Islandray becomes the third winner out of his dam, a four-time winner in her own right and a half-sister to Grade 3 Swinton Hurdle third Issaquah.

Completing an impressive maiden treble on the day for Grange Stud sire Milan was the Cormac Farrell-trained Top Man (5g Milan - Get In There, by Beneficial), winner of the Monksgrange finale under Shane Fitzgerald.

Staying on to score by six lengths, he became the first point-to-point winner for his owner, Richard Irwin. The €38,000 store buy was bred by Christopher Doyle out of a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and Grade 1 third River Wylde (Oscar).