By Dan Walsh
Colin Bowe saddled a winning treble and brought his seasonal total to 30 and is 11 winners clear in the national point-to-point handler’s championship which ends in a few weeks’ time with a most successful day at Dawstown, Co. Cork this Monday May Bank Holiday. This will be his 12th title marking a successful period for the popular Kiltealy yard.
And the battle for the riders’ title was fierce today with a treble for Rob James and a double for reigning champion Barry O’Neill. Tonight, James leads O’Neill, 37-35, with three weeks to go before the 2023-24 championship is decided.
Barry O’Neill got Bowe off to a flying start with a four lengths success on newcomer Walks In June in division one of the geldings maiden race for four-year-olds. O’Neill and Bowe also tasted success in division one of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings when Harrenhal obliged by one and three quarter lengths.
Bowe’s treble became a reality in the mares maiden race for five-year-olds plus when newcomer Simple Times dead-heated with Rob James up.
It was James’ third victory of the afternoon. Earlier he won division two of the maiden race for four-year-olds by one length with Moon Over America which he handles himself at Tomona Stables, Killanne. James’ third winner of the day came on Fort St Angelo for handler Luke Murphy at Corecannon House, Gorey, who scored by a neck in division two of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. Fourth winner in his first season as a handler for Murphy.
Denis Murphy saddled Manowest to a half-length victory in the maiden race for geldings six-year-old plus. The winning rider was Shane Cotter. And Gragreen who won the Winner of Two race for Carlow handler William Murphy is owned and bred by Leo Doyle from the Killinick Hunt area of south Wexford.
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