By Dan Walsh at Lingstown races
Heavy overnight and early morning rain made for soft and heavy conditions at Killinick Harriers point-to-point at Lingstown, Tomhaggard, today, but following a delayed start due to getting the good-sized attendance onto the track, the six-race fixture went ahead safely, and the fence in the back straight was omitted due to the ground conditions, but it stayed dry for the afternoon.
There was drama at the final fence in the maiden race for four-year-olds when Rock On By (Jack Hendrick) and Apaloosey (Eoin Staples) both came down while in contention leaving Kingston Queen, ridden by Jimmy Kenny for his father and handler Liam Kenny, Craanford, Gorey, to score by eight lengths.
Well-bred Final Demand, who cost €230,000 at Tattersalls Derby Sales, was an impressive six lengths winner of the maiden race for five- and six-year-old geldings. “He goes to the sales now,” owner/handler Matthew Flynn O’Connor, Ballycrystal, Kiltealy, said afterwards, who is on a fine winning run; this was his ninth success of the season, and he is already enjoying his most successful season to date.
Local handler Darragh Berry and the Run For Fun Partnership were celebrating after the Padge Berry Memorial Race for five-year-old maiden mares where Get Off Your Phone answered the call of victory by one and a half lengths with Shane O’Rourke, Foulksmills, in the saddle.
Nine runners took part in the Open Lightweight over the Banks Course. It was a thrill to watch, as usual, and this time success went to De Nordener ridden by Toni Quail. Three and a half lengths the verdict and the runner-up was Transprint in the colours of Richard O’Keeffe, Newtown, Taghmon.
Jimmy Kelly travelled from Cork to saddle Gentleman Toboot who scored by 12 lengths in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings with Brian Lawless up.
For the second year in succession Kilsallaghan, Co. Dublin, handler, Tom Dreaper won the maiden race for five-year-olds and upwards. He saddled Shabby Hill, a neck success with Cormac Abernathy up. Recently, Tom Draper has taken over the full training licence from his father, Jim Dreaper.
Barry O’Neill travelled to Belclare, Co. Galway, today where he rode a pair of winners; Epic West by three lengths for Donnchadh Doyle in the five and six-year-old geldings maiden and partnered Winged Leader for David Christie in the Open Lightweight Race.
Michael Goff, Clondaw, Ferns, also made his mark at the Galway fixture. He saddled Peggy’s Rock in the Winner of Two Race and scored by three lengths with Mikey Sweeney up.
Also point-to-point action today in West Waterford where Denis Murphy, Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, collected the prize after newcomer Future Prospect obliged by four lengths under Shane Cotter in te maiden race for four-year-old mares.
Sean Doyle and Jamie Scallan added another Wexford winner when the partnership shared the success of Big Interest who won by ‘a distance’ in the maiden race for five and six-year-old geldings.
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