By Dan Walsh
Four winners today – two at Tinahely and two at Tattersalls – for champion Colin Bowe puts the Kiltely handler six ahead with 11 victories in the first month of the 2024-’25 national point-to-point championship. It was also a good day for Rob James with a treble at Tinahely that places him sharing the top of the table in the riders’ championship with Barry O’Neill.
At Tinahely the four-year-old maiden race was divided with the Benjamin Halsall owned Purple Owl getting home best by one length for Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe team. Division two went to Donncha Doyle’s newcomer Show In The Sky by an impressive 14 lengths and the start of a treble for rider Rob James. Doyle added another winner in the Open Race when Er Dancer scored by two lengths with Alex Harvey up.
James captured number two on Colin Bowe’s Wild Nephin by two and a half lengths in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. James made it three on Rebel Treaty by three lengths in the mare’s Winner of One Race for Ballincollig handler Con McSweeney.
There was only one finisher at the end of the maiden race for five-year-old mares Emily Love owned and trained at Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, by Denis Murphy. Another success for Jack Hendrick.
Bob The Builder took the final race for six-year-olds plus and confined to novice riders for owner Niall Heffernan, Screen handler Richie Rath and rider Eoin Staples. The verdict was four and a half lengths.
Point-to-point action also today at Tattersalls, Co. Meath where Colin Bowe and Bertie Finn won the first two races with newcomers. Mayo Shirocco won the four-year-old mares race by four lengths and Etna Bianco won the four-year-old geldings race by one and a half lengths. Benjamin Halsall owns Etna Bianco and Purple Owl who won at Tinahely and Bertie Finn’s double puts him on the 30th career winner mark.
Donnchadh Doyle had a double at Tinahely and made it a treble for the day at Tattersalls when he saddled Atomic Level for the five-year-old plus maiden and the happy outcome was a five lengths victory under Brian Lawless.
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