Lingstown 4-timer for Rob James

By Dan Walsh at Lingstown, Tomhaggard

Top rider Rob James from Killanne was the star of the show with four winners at today’s Killinick Harriers point-to-point races at Lingstown.

The maiden race for four-year-old geldings was the first event of the season to force ‘a divide’ and both divisions went the way of Monbeg Syndicate, handler Donnchadh Doyle and Rob James.

Brook Bay scored by four lengths in division one and Simple Getaway, bred by Andy Pierce at Blackhall Stud, Killurin, won going away by eight lengths in a race where only three finished. Both promising geldings are now sales bound.

James’s third success came in the maiden race for five-year-old mares on Kayf Hope by five lengths. “She is a lovely filly and goes to the Goffs UK Tingle Creek Sale at Sandown next Saturday,” said successful handler Colin Bowe afterwards.

Rob James gained his fourth success of the afternoon on Lar’s Lass for Kilsallaghan, Co. Dublin handler, Tom Dreaper, in the maiden race for six-year-olds and upwards. Lar’s Lass won by one length from Gray Rock in the colours of the Kenny family from Craanford and ridden by James Kenny.

Twelve runners set out in the Open Lightweight Race over the famous Lingstown banks, they kept up a mighty pace through the three miles and more than half the field dropped away with only four finishers.

Vital Island (Barry Stone) ran well in an attempt to win ‘over the banks’ for the fifth time but had to be content with third place as victory went to Loggan Lady, handled by John Patrick Walsh from Ballyday, Gorey, and ridden by his son, Barry. Two and a half lengths the winning margin. Afterwards Walsh said the plan is to come back to Lingstown in March and then aim for Punchestown next April!

The mares four-year-old race was run in a downpour, but it didn’t stop Only By Night and Shane O’Rourke, Foulksmills, score by four lengths for handler Garrett Murphy for the Rathangan-based Turbine Syndicate. The four lengths winner is off to the sales now.

The Cork team of rider Johnny Barry and handler Daniel Murphy were winners in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings with James Set by two and a half lengths.

Also point-to-point action at Boulta in west Waterford today where Harley Dunne won the five and six-year-old geldings maiden race on Rockwiththetimes for handler Damien Murphy.