By Dan Walsh
There were three point-to-point meetings this afternoon across the country and brilliant results for Wexford connections with nine handlers and eight riders cheered to victory.
Racing took place at Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny, and in-form Garrett Murphy from Ballymitty saddled newcomer Hidden Fortune to a three-quarter-length victory in the mare’s maiden race for four-year-olds with Cheltenham hero, Barry Stone, in the saddle. This was Murphy’s 10th handler success in four years of training, and he is having his best season to date with four winners.
Jim O’Neill, Ballindaggin, also saddled a winner – newcomer Soomaroy in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden race ridden by Jack Hendrick. Four lengths the verdict.
Colin Bowe and Bertie Finn were the perfect team in the mares’ five-year-old plus maiden race and a half-a-length victory with Whiskey Serenade,
Ellen Doyle from Coolgarrow Lane, Enniscorthy, saddled Ciel De Neige, formerly with the champion Wille Mullins, in the Open Race for novice riders providing Blackwater rider Shane Butler with his second success. It was tight! – but one length was good enough.
And Donnchadh Doyle didn’t leave the Kilkenny track without a winner either. The Ballindaggin handler saddled Bass Hunter in the final Adjacent maiden race and enjoyed a seven lengths victory under another Cheltenham hero this week, Rob James.
At Knockanohill, Co. Cork, Cormac Doyle saddled newcomer Lancelot Du Large in the maiden race for four-year-olds and it ended good – a two and a half lengths success under rider Jamie Scallan.
Harley Dunne owned and handled the three lengths winner of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings at the Cork track – Captain Cool ridden by Frankie Murphy, who was on home territory.
There was also racing at Daramona House, Co. Longford where Barry O’Neill brought home a winning double. First up was Tip of the Wings in the colours of William Bates, handled by J.P. Berry, Tomhaggard, by four lengths in the maiden race for four-year-olds by four lengths followed by a six lengths success later in the day on Blueys Unicorse for David Christie.
Ubatuba was a popular winner for the Blackhall Stables Partnership and handler Paul Martin Pierce, Killurin, ridden by Sean Staples and two and a half lengths to the good in the maiden race for five-year-olds.
Point-to-point action returns to Co. Wexford next Saturday, March 22nd, when the Island Foxhounds race at Ballycrystal, Kiltealy. First race at 1pm. Entries close on Tuesday.
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