Four for Barry O’Neill on home turf

By Dan Walsh at Ballycrystal

Barry O’Neill was performing on his home territory at Ballycrystal today and he put on a mighty show for the large crowd booting home four winners – two of them for local handler Colin Bowe. Both champions are top of the leader board tonight with nine winners each since the new season began at the beginning of October.

Inspired by the Harry Potter character Leaky Cauldron came home first by five lengths for the O’Neill-Bowe team in the maiden race for four-year-olds. “He was very professional and jumped very well,” said Bowe afterwards, and was followed home by Donnchadh Doyle’s Cave Article and Denis Murphy’s Jackstell.

The O’Neill-Bowe double came in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings and a two and a half lengths advantage for Big John Wayne in the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd colours.

Win number three for O’Neill came aboard Weir Lane for handler David O’Brien, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, in the colours of Mike Allen in the maiden race for five- and six-year-olds.

O’Neill’s fourth success of the afternoon saw Aidan Fitzgerald’s Commander of Ten cheered across the finish line two and a half lengths clear in the maiden race for six-year-olds and upwards.

Rob James was in action at Umma House today and missed seen Rossbridge get the best of a close finish for the Matchmaker Syndicate and Duncormack rider Eoin Staples in the four-year-old maiden auction race.

The Open Lightweight Race was confined to lady riders and the reigning champion, Susie Doyle from Thurles, was on the six lengths winner – Lifetime Ambition handled by her father, Pat Doyle, who intends sticking to a similar route during the season.

It was a pleasant afternoon’s point-to-pointing and everything ran safely and smoothly under the watchful eye of the Island Hunt, the weather was glorious for October, ground conditions were safe and suitable for the horses, and the large crowd was noticeable family groups and younger punters which is a good omen for the sport.

There were also point-to-point races at Umma House in south Westmeath and two Wexford stables were victorious. Harley Dunne saddled first timer Piper Park in the four-year-old mares maiden race and secured victory by two lengths with Tiernan Power Roche from Tomhaggard in the saddle.

Daryl Deacon, Belmont House, Clonroche, who was present at Ballycrystal, received the brilliant news that Dollar Collar gave him a five lengths success in the mares’ maiden ridden by Derek O’Connor.

The fixture list is as follows: Sunday, November 12^th; Wexford Hunt Races at Knockmullen House, New Ross. Sunday, November 19^th; Wicklow Hunt at Fairwood, Tinahely. November 26^th; Killinick Harriers at Lingstown, Tomhaggard. Sunday, December 3^rd; Carlow Farmers Hunt at Borris House.