By Dan Walsh
The 2020-’21 point-to-point season kicked off this afternoon at Ballingarry in North Tipperary ‘behind closed doors’ under Covid-19 government guidelines and there was an amazing start to proceedings with national champion rider Barry O’Neill bringing home a four-timer, three of them for champion handler Colin Bowe.
Neon Moon got the Kiltealy partnership into winning ways with a two length victory in the second division of the four year old geldings maiden and in the next race – the mares maiden race for five and six year olds – Bowe and O’Neill delivered again, this time by an easy eight lengths with Navy Girl in the colours of Rebecca Surman.
Coopers Cross in the colours of Milestone Bloodstock Ltd kept the winning combination going with a five lengths success in division one of the five year old geldings maiden event. He was chased home by another Wexford competitor, Figaro Des Bordes, for handler Donnchadh Doyle and rider Rob James.
Barry O’Neill has a long record of success for Fermanagh handler David Christie and the combination proved strongest in the Open Lightweight Race with Marinero who ran out the five lengths winner to give Barry O’Neill and a head start in the new championship race with his four triumph of the afternoon.
There was a first and last race double for rider James Walsh from Tinahely. In the four year old maiden race Walsh was seen to good advantage on the Michael Kenny newcomer Saratoga Lass for Adamstown handler Kieran Roche. The verdict was one and a half lengths.
James Walsh teamed up with his father, John Walsh, to record a riding double on eighth and final race on the card – the ‘older maidens’ race – with High Stakes, first time out and a good seven lengths winner.
There was one other Wexford trained winner. First time out in the second division of the maiden geldings race for four year olds Sublime Heights from the Redbridge Stables of Michael Murphy, Duncormick, was a three lengths winner with Sean Staples, Scar, Duncormick, in the saddle.
WexfordLocal.com 