Barry O’Neill opens up his lead

By Dan Walsh

Today’s point-to-point was at Damma House in neighbouring Kilkenny where champion rider Barry O’Neill recorded a double, bringing his seasonal total onto the 15-winner mark, and five Wexford stables were successful.

O’Neill got off the mark in the Winner of Two race aboard Croi Corcra in the colours of PJ Fortune, Doonooney, Adamstown, and trained by Colin Bowe, by two and a half lengths. O’Neill made it two in the final race of the day – six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden – on the Gordon Elliott trained The Creadan Rogue by ten lengths.

Wexford stables were successful in the two divisions of the maiden race for four-year-olds. Rexam won division one for Shirley Berry and Johnny Berry, Tomhaggard, by six lengths with Shane O’Rourke, Foulksmills, in the saddle.

Division two produced a short-head finish. Everyonesgame (Andrew Latta and Jack Hendrick) led in the closing stages but was caught on the line by Sporting Mike, owned and handled by Matthew Flynn O’Connor, Kiltealy, with Wicklow rider Brian Lawless up.

Richard O’Keeffe, Newtown, Taghmon, had his first runner of the season and Transprint, which he owns and handles, got home a length advantage to provide rider Tony Doyle with his first winner.

John Martin Walsh, Rathangan, saddled first Westie Rose, in the colours of Martina Power and ridden by Barry Stone, Cleariestown, having his 10^th career winner, in the five-year-olds and upwards mares maiden race and she won by five lengths.

Three Wexford winners yesterday (Saturday) at the Tattersalls point-to-point run under the auspices of the Louth Foxhounds.

The maiden race for four-year-old geldings attracted many runners and exceeded the safety limit, and consequently, it was run in two ‘divides’ and both produced first time out winners from Wexford stables.

Rob James rode Donnchadh Doyle’s Monbeg Park to a three lengths victory in division one and he goes to the Cheltenham Sales next week, while division two was a closer affair with Luke Murphy getting Present Soldier up by three quarters of a length for owner and handler Denis Murphy, Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh.

Another newcomer Monbeg Lane, this time the charge of Sean Doyle, proved best in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings by seven lengths in the hands of Jamie Scallan, Tomhaggard.