By Dan Walsh
The 2025-’26 point-to-point season kicked off last Saturday at Toomebridge, Co. Antrim and continued yesterday (Sunday) at Castletown-Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath where Ellen Doyle saddled Escapefromreality to a 17 lengths victory under Brian Dunleavy in the maiden race for five- and six-year-old geldings.
Owned by the Baltimore Stables Syndicate the Coolgarrow Lane, Enniscorthy, handler said “he will probably go for a winner’s race next.”
Many times champion Barry O’Neill got off the mark at the Westmeath track today on the Cian Collins handled Yewtree Hill by eight lengths in the Winner of Two Race.
Yesterday at Toomebridge Cian Collins, who is based near Navin in Co. Meath provided Rob James with his first winner of the new season on the first day – Walk in the Clouds by ‘a head’ in the five-year-old plus mares’ maiden race.
The champion combination of Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill had three ‘seconds’ – Lady Blackmore, Foetis Et Liber and Kano De Thaix – while second placings also for Robert Tector (Bee’s kiss) and Denis Murphy (Frailmonti Bilbery) – so five lively prospects for the notebook in the coming weeks.
Fixtures in the South-East are as follows;
Sunday, October 19th; Shillelagh & District at Fairwood, Tinahely.
Saturday, October 25th; Island Hunt at Peppards castle, Kilmuckridge.
Sunday, November 9th; Wexford Hunt at Knockmullen House, New Ross.
Sunday, November 16th; Wicklow Hunt at Fairwood, Tinahely.
Sunday, November 23rd; Killinick Harriers at Lingstown, Tomhaggard.
Sunday, November 30th; Carlow Farmers at Borris House, Co. Carlow.
Sunday, December 7th; Ballinagore Harriers at Ballycrystal, Kiltealy.
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