Rob James is rider/handler winner

By Dan Walsh Cheltenham winning rider Rob James has got off to a winning start in the 2021-’22 point-to-point season with a photo-finish success on first timer Secret She Keeps, whom he also trains at Killanne in the colours of the Matchmaker Syndicate, in the four-year-old maiden race at Castletown-Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath today. It wasContinue reading “Rob James is rider/handler winner”

HIGH FIVE for champions Barry and Colin

By Dan Walsh at Monksgrange National champions Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe have hit the ground running sharing five winners on the first two days of the 2021-’22 point-to-point season, three of them today at their local Bree Hunt fixture at Monksgrange, Rathnure, where the rains fell and changed the going. Four runners stood theirContinue reading “HIGH FIVE for champions Barry and Colin”

There’re off at Monksgrange

By Dan Walsh The 2021-22 point-to-point season gets into its stride at Monksgrange, Rathnure, tomorrow (Sunday) for the Bree Hunt races with the first of six races off at 2pm. There are eighty-eight entries. The track has was spiked with watering during the week and the going is described as “good.” To gain access aContinue reading “There’re off at Monksgrange”

Good day’s racing at Wexford today

By Dan Walsh Only Jordan Gainford from Caim shared in a local success at Bettyville Park today and it came in the opening race – the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle – as Barnaculla, (14/1) scored easily by seven lengths for Kells trainer Michael Mulvany. Roger McGrath who trains at Aglish on the Waterford-Cork borderContinue reading “Good day’s racing at Wexford today”

Jamie Codd lines the punters pocket

By Dan Walsh at Bettyville Park It was refreshing to be amongst the restricted attendance under Covid-19 guidelines allowed at a fine Bettyville Park this evening where punters had to wait until the final event on the seven-race card for Jamie Codd to bring home a local winner. Codd was well supported on the GavinContinue reading “Jamie Codd lines the punters pocket”

Autumn 2021 ‘points’ fixtures announced

By Dan Walsh Racing enthusiasts will be relieved to learn that the 2021 Autumn Point-to-Point fixture list has been published by the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee with plenty of action happening in the south-east counties. Sunday, September 26th; Bree Foxhounds will race at Monksgrange. Sunday, October 17th; Shillelagh & District at Fairwood, Tinahely; andContinue reading “Autumn 2021 ‘points’ fixtures announced”

Close finishes at Bettyville Park

By Dan Walsh Tight finishes were a feature of this evening’s seven-race card run in summer conditions at Bettyville Park this evening. No local winners though. The opening two and a half mile hurdle was a thriller with Mr Caplan (4/1), trained by Denise Foster and ridden by Keith Donoghue, holding off Quirt Evans andContinue reading “Close finishes at Bettyville Park”

Wexford double for trainer Paul Nolan

By Dan Walsh A first and last race double for Davidstown trainer Paul Nolan was the highlight at today’s races run at Bettyville Park. Valentia Lady (2/1), winner of a bumper in November 2019, was a good winner for Nolan in the first divide of the Loch Garman Mares Opportunity Maiden Hurdle with Jordan Gainford,Continue reading “Wexford double for trainer Paul Nolan”

Good day at Wexford races

By Dan Walsh Good, yielding in places, was the order of the ground at Bettyville Park this afternoon where an eight-race card was run off in overcast conditions behind closed doors in line with Covid-19 protocol and guidelines. Local success was scarce; however, the second division of the handicap chase saw Sean O’Keeffe, Taghmon, scoreContinue reading “Good day at Wexford races”

Titles for O’Neill, Bowe and Rogan

By Dan Walsh The 2020-21 point-to-point campaign ended in celebration and sunshine at Grennan, Co. Kilkenny today with winners for three Wexford champions. Barry O’Neill becomes National champion rider for the fifth time, and also made a piece of history by taking the titles in all four regions – north, south, east and west -forContinue reading “Titles for O’Neill, Bowe and Rogan”