By Dan Walsh at Lingstown Races
A treble in the first three races set the standard at the Killinick Harriers point-to-point at Lingstown, Tomhaggard, today (Sunday) where the large entry forced a seven-race card and few finishers and long-distance verdicts reflected the tough windy conditions watched by a large attendance.
Local handler Jonathan Fogarty from Gaynestown Stud and his rider Barry Stone, also from nearby Cleariestown were successful in the first three races on the card. First up was a 14 lengths victory for Jenny France in the maiden race for four-year-old mares.
The maiden race for four-year-old geldings was divided and the Fogarty/Stone partnership struck twice. Sine Qua Non took the first division by an incredible 48 lengths with Garrett Murphy’s Loaded and Locked (Jamie Scallan) the only other finisher. The rest had pulled up in the closing stages of a tough three-mile contest.
Half an hour later and the treble was completed when Kindly Prince took the spoils by 16 lengths in division two. This was the 25th career winner for Jonathan Fogarty and to be achieved at his local track was a bonus, especially for the local punters!
Handler Stuart Crawford made the long journey from Larne to Lingstown and was rewarded with a 20 lengths victory when Jackpot Cauveleire won the maiden race for five-year-old geldings ridden by Stephen Connor from Galway.
The big race of the day was the Neville Hotels Open Lightweight Nomination Race over the Banks Course, 13 of the 14 entries faced the starter, and concluded in a two and a half lengths victory for the fancied Fountain House handled by Ian McCarthy, Kildangan, Kildare, and ridden by Eoin Mahon. Fountain House was runner-up in the Ladies Cup at the Punchestown Festival last April and will be heading back there next year!
Pat Doyle from Courtown who is well-known in the motor trade always has a few horses on the go and turns winners on the track and in point-to-points and today his six-year-old chestnut gelding Sir Ollie put in a powerful display under Oulart rider Bertie Finn for a 15 lengths success. “He is a family horse, and we’ll keep on going. He liked that ground out there today,” said Pat Doyle afterwards.
Colin Bowe was in form on Sunday too! He saddled Bobbi With An I in the maiden race for five-year-olds and the outcome was a 40 lengths success under Jack Hendrick with only one other finisher – Justlikejessejames (Jamie Scallan). Meanwhile, Bowe made it a double for the day when Judicial Deference ridden by Eoin Staples, Duncormick, scored by one length in the maiden race for geldings aged five years or over at Moig South, Co. Limerick.
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