By Dan Walsh
The Shillelagh & District point-to-point cancelled due to weather conditions last Sunday was rescheduled for today (Saturday) and action took place after surviving an 8am inspection.
Highlight of the day was a double for Barry O’Neill who won for the 20th time on David Christie’s 11-year-old Winged Leader who scored his remarkable 15th successive success in the Open Race.
The Fermanagh-based handler was delighted with the victory. “I was worried today because we missed a lot of work. You wouldn’t get on our gallop this morning with the frost. We’ve done very little with him all week.”
The victory is a 28th in the point-to-point fields alone for Winged Leader and his 32nd overall. Barry O’Neill has ridden him to victory on 20 occasions. O’Neill scored a double on Last Round for Gordon Elliott’s Meath stablers, who in turn enjoyed a Tinahely double with Welcome Back (Harry Swan) taking the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.
Racing got under way with the maiden race for five-year-old mares and a six lengths success for newcomer Chanonry Point handled by Robert Tector at Coolbawn, Rathnure, and ridden by Jamie Scallan.
Niall Heffernan and handler Richie Rath, Screen, saddled Bob The Builder in the Winner of One race for novice riders and with Frankie Murphy up the result was a six lengths victory.
Josh Berry from Tomhaggard was aboard Richieandsams Lady for the Run For Fun Partnership and Darragh Berry in the mares’ maiden race which concluded in a nice eight lengths victory.
A second fixture, Ballindenisk in Cork, also postponed from last Sunday went ahead today and the five-year-old mares maiden provided Rob James with a victory with Carry On Heidi for the local Baragry family from Fermoy.
Garry Murphy from Ballymitty saddled Loaded and Locked for the Turbine Syndicate and the result was a one length victory under Ross Sugrue in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.
Donnchadh Doyle and the Monbeg Syndicate were also on the winning sheet. Er Dancer won the Open race for novice riders to give Alan Harney a well deserved winner.
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