By Dan Walsh at Tinahely
Mayglass rider Jack Hendrick was the king of Fairwood, Tinahely, today where he grabbed the headlines riding three winners at the annual Bray Harriers point-to-point races. He is enjoying a good season and this was number 12 out of a career total of 28 wins.
Only four of the 24 entries faced the starter for the maiden race for four-year-olds and Idalko Bihoue came home alone for Monbeg handler Cormac Doyle and the first of Jack Hendrick’s memorable treble.
Jamie Codd was present to see his father, Billy Codd saddle Earl of Desmond in the Winners of Two race and victory was his by eight and a half lengths with Jack Hendrick up. Owned by Basil Holian from Galway, Jamie said afterwards. “He is a fun horse. We don’t know where he will go next. We’ll have to discuss with the owner. We’ll see.”
Jack Hendrick’s hat-trick was completed on Killybegs Junior in George Murphy’s colours and trained at Coolbawn, Rathnure, by Robert Tector. The winning distance was five lengths and Hendrick expects the gelding will be aimed at a winner’s race on his next outing.
Jack Hendrick missed out on a four-timer aboard Captains Nephew for Cormac Doyle in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings having lead over the final fence but caught on the run in by Colin Bowe’s General Officer ridden by James Kenny. The verdict was a neck.
Denis Murphy, Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, has ambitious plans for Lough Derg Spirit, the sixteen lengths winner of the Open Lightweight Race for novice riders under Conor Smithers. “He will go for a Lightweight Open and we’ll also consider a trip to Aintree. He will improve,” added Murphy.
Brian Lawless from Delgany was happy to have a winner at the Bray Harriers point-to-point and it came on Time To Rocco by two lengths for Cork handler Colin Motherway in the maiden race for five-year-old mares.
The Bray’s were facilitated by the Shillelagh & District Hunt where a good size crowd gathered and braved a hail shower but the track rode well and the pace was fast and furious in all six races.
It was a successful weekend for Barry O’Neill who travelled to Farmacaffley on Saturday and recorded a double – On The Sod for David Christie in the Open Race and added in a five length victory on Colin Bowe’s Gunnery Officer by five lengths in the maiden race for six year old geldings plus.
Today, O’Neill made the journey to Lisronagh, Co. Tipperary, where he rode his third winner in two days. He was aboard newcomer Haveanothergoflo for Colin Bowe in division three of the maiden contest for five-year-old geldings. Three winners also for Bowe, one yesterday at Farmacaffley and across the board double today at Tinahely and Lisronagh.
There were two other Wexford winners at the Tipperary track. Sean Doyle trained newcomer Between Waters to victory in the mares four-year-old maiden race – a 25th career winner for Jamie Scallan from Tomhaggard – and the runner-up, eight lengths adrift of the winner, was Realisation from Mary Ellen Doyle’s Coolgarrow Lane Stables near Enniscorthy.
Richie Rath sent Come On Paddy Mac from his Ballybawn, Screen, stable and was rewarded with a three lengths success in the first division of the maiden race for six-year-olds plus race. Tom Hamilton was the successful rider.
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