By Dan Walsh
Harley Dunne was the point-to-point hero today riding two winners and training three at two of the three point-to-points held across the country. There were eleven Wexford winners which reflects the strength of quality found in local stables.
Harley Dunne whose yard is near Clonroche made his way to Tattersalls in Co. Louth where he scored a double – all owned, handled and ridden by himself – and brought his riding career total to 90.
He came in three lengths to the good on Bop Bop Bobbin in the maiden race for four-year-old mares and had four lengths to spare when taking Tango Arumba first over the line in the maiden race for mares of five years or more.
Dunne dispatched Genietoile to Dromahane, Co. Cork, and with Tiernan Power Roche in the saddle they triumphed by a length which was compensation for a penultimate fence fall on a first outing at Tinahely in February. So, a treble on the day for Dunne wearing his handlers’ hat and his horses are running in great form recently.
Back at Tattersalls, father and son Liam and James Kenny, Craanford, pleased the Orphan Girl Syndicate from the Ballymoney area when Sam Magee ran to a nine lengths success in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.
The Berry family from Kilmore enjoyed success in the Open Novice Riders race with A Rated. Owned and handled by Shirley and Johnny Berry the success was all the sweeter as it was a second victory in the saddle for their son, Josh Berry. The verdict was one length.
And a fifth Wexford winner from six races at the Louth track was First Preference, home-bred and owned by Jimmy Devereux, Rostoonstown, Tomhaggard, handled by his son, Vincent, and ridden by Shane O’Rourke, Foulksmills, who had one and a half lengths to spare in the Winner of One Race.
Conor Moore from Kilmore Quay enjoyed a double success at Stradbally this afternoon. He partnered Benefits Deu for owner Denis Moore and handler Thomas Byrne in the Winner of Three Race and half an hour later was given the leg up on first timer Bare Assets in the maiden race for mares aged five years or over by Jonathan Fogarty at Gaynestown, Cleariestown, and he got home half a length to the good to record a double.
Also at the Laois venue, Michael Goff, Clondaw, Ferns, saddled El Muchacho in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings which provided him with an eight lengths success under Dan Nevin.
Sean Doyle, Ballindaggin, was also amongst the winners in Laois. He saddled The Forge Hill in the Open Race and made all to get home half a length to the good with Sean Staples in the saddle.
Down at Dromahane where Harley Dunne’s Genietoile won (see above) Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill combined to win the maiden race for five-year-old geldings by eight lengths with Castleward.
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