Barry Stone wins Eastern title

By Dan Walsh

With the point-to-point season coming to an end shortly Barry Stone has won the Eastern riders’ title and the Cleariestown champion celebrated today in Galway where he rode a double and brought his seasonal tally to 27 – a personal best!

Stone won the first division of the maiden race for four-year-old geldings on newcomer Big Ticket by 16 lengths for handler Jonathan Fogarty and added the five-year-old geldings maiden race on True Harmony for handler Garrett Murphy. Four lengths the verdict.

Rob James also rode a brace of winners in the west. He succeeded on Jury Roses, which he also trains, by five lengths in the maiden race for four-year-old mares and completed the double on Donnchadh Doyle’s Kamille Au Kanada by 14 lengths in the mares’ maiden race for five-year-olds plus.

Point-to-point action at Ballindenisk, Co. Cork, today too. Jack Hendrick had an easy 18 lengths victory on Cormac Doyle’s newcomer Indulto Rouge in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings.

Sean Doyle saddled Adonedeal to a 17 lengths success in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. Jamie Scallan was the successful rider. And Tinahely rider James Walsh, who is returning from injury, scored on Some Spanner handled by Marc Costello by six lengths in the maiden race for six-year-old plus geldings.

May Bank Holiday Monday racing took place at Dawstown, Co. Cork, and it yielded two Wexford winners. Argent Royale won for Eamonn Doyle in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings with Alan Harney up. The winning distance was three lengths.

Rob James good form continued and he handled and rode I C U In My Dreams for Caim owner, Tom Sinnott and gained a four and a half lengths success in the maiden race for mares’ five-year-old plus. 

Saturday’s action took place at Toomebridge, Co. Antrim, and Rob James handled and rode Cavalier Du Luy to a single length success in the maiden race for four-year-olds.

Michael Goff, Clondaw, Ferns also saddled a winner – Zagurlie (Michael Kenneally up) by half a length in the maiden race for mares five-year-olds plus.