By Dan Walsh at Ballycrystal
Ballindaggin handler Sean Doyle is top of the Handlers’ Championship table tonight following the success of Old Style Humor in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings at the Island Hunt races at Ballycrystal, Kiltealy, this afternoon.
Owned by the Monbeg Partnership, Old Style Humor, who was runner-up at Tinahely on the previous Sunday, was ridden by Mayglass rider Jack Hendrick. He won by five lengths. Afterwards Doyle said; “He is a horse to have fun with” and he is hopeful of further success sometime in the future.
It was Doyle’s fifth success of the new point-to-point season and he is now one winner ahead of reigning champion Colin Bowe.
The only other Wexford trained winner at the picturesque track was Ryan’s Rocket, owned by the local Cullen House Syndicate, handled by Matthew O’Connor-Flynn whose family supplied the excellent track for todays racing. The winning rider was Brian Lawless and the winning distance were four lengths with Ihandaya coming home runner-up for the Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill partnership.
It was a brilliant day for Waterford handler Declan Queally and Mallow rider Chris O’Donovan who shared a treble success. Desert Cave was a short-head winner of the maiden race for four-year-olds; Desert Heather won the maiden race for five and six year old mares by three lengths; and the third success from three runners came in the final race of the day for ‘maiden six year olds and upwards’ when Rocky’s Howya demolished the opposition by 18 lengths. Queally scored with all three that he brought to the races and all three started favourites!
The Open Lightweight Race was confined to lady riders and it was Georgie Benson on The Storyteller, trained in Meath by Gordon Elliott, who took the spoils by four lengths.
The track was in excellent condition and there was a large attendance in Indian summer weather conditions.
There was also Wexford success at today’s second point-to-point races at Umma House, Co. Westmeath.
Donnchadh Doyle won the four-year-old mares’ maiden race with newcomer Omaha Wish and Rob James prevailing by ‘a neck’ in a tight finish. The mare is owned by the Monbeg Syndicate.
Jonathan Fogarty’s Gaynestown stables at Cleariestown enjoyed a nine and a half lengths victory with Down Memory Lane in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings. The winning rider was veteran and former many times national champion Derek O’Connor.
Harley Dunne was owner and handler of Brooksway Fair, the six lengths winner of the Open Race which was confined to novice riders. It was a first success for 17 years old Cork rider Donal O’Connor, who has been riding out in the Clonroche area recently.
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