By Dan Walsh
A treble for pending 12-times champion handler Colin Bowe and a double for Oulart rider Bertie Finn at Ballingarry today (Saturday) plus more Wexford trained winners at Ballingarry and Tralee were the highlights on the penultimate day of the 2023-’24 point-to-point season.
Bowe and Finn struck form in the opening maiden race for four-year-old mares with newcomer The Great Nudie, running in the colours of Leo McArdle, scoring impressively by 18 lengths. The partnership secured the double with Stuntman Steve in division two of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. Two lengths the verdict. And Bowe completed a treble and took his seasonal total to 36 when Haggard, running in the colours of Thomas Coleman, scored a 12 lengths victory under Sophie Carter in the Winner of One race confined to novice riders.
Handler Garreth Murphy from Ballymitty saddled To The Wire with Barry Stone up in the four-year-old auction maiden race and they came home first, two and a half lengths to the good!
The first division of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings concluded in a 15 lengths success for Roaring Conquest from Denis Murphy’s Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, with Sean Cotter taking the mount.
At Tralee, James and Vincent Devereaux, Rostoonstown, Tacumshane, enjoyed a two and a half lengths success with home-bred newcomer Onlymammycanloveme with Shane O’Rourke riding in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.
Some Front, running in the colours of Shirley Berry, and handled by John P. Berry from Tomhaggard, and ridden by their 19 years old son Josh Berry, having his third career winner, got the verdict in a tight finish – half a length the winning margin – in the maiden race for mares of five-year-old plus.
Millie Supreme was another Wexford winner. Ridden by Brian Lawless for the Monbeg Syndicate and handler Donnchadh Doyle in the Winners race.
The point-to-point season ends tomorrow (Sunday) with two fixtures; a second day at Ballingarry and a fixture at Inchydorney.
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