By Dan Walsh
Six times national point-to-point champion rider Barry O’Neill from Kiltealy reached another milestone in his career at Necarne, Co. Fermanagh, this afternoon where he achieved his 800th career success and his 30th victory during the current 2023-24 season which has only a few weeks left.
O’Neill was aboard Kingston Coole for local handler David Christie who carried him to an 11 lengths victory in the mare’s maiden race for five-year-olds.
There was a second local success at the northern track. Cash Cut owned and trained by John Edward Walsh, Preban, Tinahely, and ridden by his son James scored by two and a half lengths in the Winners of Three race.
Following in the hoofprints of Singing Banjo in the La Touche Cup yesterday there was further Wexford success at the Punchestown Festival today (Friday) when Private Ryan (9/4) won the Bishopscourt Cup by two and three quarter lengths.
Trained at Ballindaggin by Sean Doyle Private Ryan was the mount of Jamie Scallan, Tomhaggard, and the dual point-to-point winner and is now successful under the Rules. “That’s brilliant. We had him as a young horse, and we sold him. He appeared in Doncaster last year, he had never raced for Nicky Henderson as the syndicate fell out, and Henry (Chamney), a local farmer, was looking for something for this race.
“By luck we stumbled across this lad and he fitted the bill well so it all worked out. It’s like a dream come true for this man, he’ll absolutely love this, said Sean Doyle, who added; “You even see it here yesterday, young Barry Walsh rides out for me and he won the La Touche. It’s all about about getting a kick and it’s absolutely brilliant when it works.”
WexfordLocal.com 