Point-to-Point Weekly 28-02-2024

BOUM TIME

Magic Boum justifies marketconfidence to makeawinningdebut under Brian Dunleavy at Kildorrery Reports, pages2-3

DEREK O’CONNOR

‘My west of Ireland neighbour John Staunton hit the target with his two four-year-old runners at the weekend, Small Town Hero at Farmacaffley and Fiddaun, who Irodefor him to winatLisronagh’ d

Page 4

On the flat Over jumps

In the ring

LACRIQUEwonhersecondGroup1overamileinNewZealandonSaturday

KINGOFKINGSFIELD(Grade1placedforGordonElliott),MATATA(Grade2placedforNigelTwiston-Davies), STOKETHEFIRE(Grade3placedforWillieMullins),allinthepastfiveweeks

WINGED LEADER made the Armagh Construction open his own as he collected the prize for a third time

Runner-up to Billaway in the 2022 St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Winged Leader first appeared in the Farmacaffley race when second in 2019. He went one better a year later and repeated the success in 2023.

With Maxine O’Sullivan on the John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane-owned son of Winged Love for the first time, the tenyear-old again proved his liking for the to ugh ve nu e on Saturday, beating Wowsham by two and a half lengths to delight trainer David Christie “He’s an absolute legend in our yard Every day you get out now, you are very conscious of the fact there’s not much longer with him, so just enjoy him and savour every minute,” Christie said.

Star performance

Cabaret Prince delivered the smart performance his connections had long been expecting

“We may now aim him at the Tetratema in Gowran if they allow him into it.”

Troy Walsh ticked off the first double of his career when Midnight Skye proved a cut above seven rivals in the Website NI mares’ maiden.

Th ir d on her de bu t at Dromahane in November, the Aidan Fitzgerald-trained mare became the second maiden winner to emerge from that race as 23-year-old Walsh guided her to a seven-length defeat of Currish Lane

“We picked this race out nearly six weeks ago because we knew the track would suit her,” Fitzgerald said. “We think she’s a very good mare We

were disappointed the first day when she didn’t win.”

Walsh and Fitzgerald earlier teamed up with Commander Of Ten to land the Mullan Family winner-of-one in a thrilling finish

Five horses approached the final fence matching strides and spread across the entire width of the track.

However, it was the Doyen gelding, reappearing six days after finishing second at Tinahely, who found most on the run-in to fend off Sifaka by half a length

That was one of two wins on the ca rd for the re tir ed Sunnyhill Stud sire Doyen as he was also responsible for the impressive winner of the Mc Ki nne y Com pe titi ons Armagh five-year-old geldings’ maiden, Cabaret Prince A half-brother to the Kerry and Munster National-winning Cabaret Queen, who also

KILDARE AT PUNCHESTOWN SATURDAY

‘Absolute legend’ Winged Leader delights Christie with open treble Eyes Off Annie has Bishopscourt in sights

FORMER champion jockey

Davy Russell took time out of his preparations for Dancing

With The Stars to welcome Eyes Off Annie, a horse he br ed , in to the wi nner ’s enclosure after the Fifty Stars at Sunnyhill Stud mares’ maiden.

Absent since being pulled up at Monksgrange in March 2022, the Ian McCarthy-trained daughter of Presenting belied lack of recent racing experience as she comfortably had the measure of Scotch Street by four lengths in a victory that could set her up for an appearance at the Punchestown festival later in the season.

“She’s a mare we’re going to have a bit of fun with, and we will go for a winners’ race with, her” McCarthy said.

“We got her with the plan of the farmers’ race [Bishopscourt Cup] here at the festival as the target. She’s a good, solid mare and she did it well.”

Star performance

Additional Time showed his class and had victory wrapped up some way out

Private Ryan is likely to line up in opposition against her at the Punchestown festival after he came through the Mongey Communications confined winners’ race, a recognised trial for the Bishopscourt Cup.

Successful in a Ballyragget ma iden in 2022 , the Presenting-sired seven-yearold also spent time on the sidelines, but showed promise in competitive winners’ events during the autumn on his return to the Sean Doyle stable after time in England with Nicky Henderson.

Always ridden prominently by Jamie Scallan, the Henry Chamney-owned bay was five lengths too strong for the re cen t wi de-m ar gin

started her career winning as a four-year-old for Warren Ewing, the bay had failed to justify significant market support when disappointing at Kirkistown a fortnight earlier, but he bounced back to beat Takt De Touques easily.

“He’s finally shown us he is the horse we thought he was,” Ewing said. “We had a wee pr oblem wi th him aft er

Kirkistown and corrected it, and he won like a good horse.”

It was welcome compensation for the Bernice stables operator as he had earlier come up short in his bid to win the WHR Accountants fouryear-old maiden for a second year when his Whinney Hill was narrowly denied by Small Town Hero

The son of Jet Away will now

be sold after he was the first of two winners in the age division across the weekend for Galway handler John Staunton.

Caroline McCaldin’s strong start to 2024 showed no sign of letting up as Ballyphilip, a relatively new addition to her Dromara stable, hacked up in the Philip White Tyres older geldings’ maiden.

Placed in one of his six starts

Ballinaboola maiden winner Memories Never Die

“He’s a great horse to have and is owned by a great friend of ours, Henry Chameny,” Gearoid Doyle, brother of the winning handler, said.

“Henry is a Kildare hunt farmer and he would love to have a competitive runner at the festival, so the Bishopscourt Cup is the aim.”

De Nordener made his near weekly appearance in the pointing fields as he sought to add to his Knockanard victory six days earlier in the Quanta Capital open for novice riders

However, Sam Curling’s eight-year-old proved no match for Au Fleuron, who made a winning first start for David Christie The ex-Gordon Elliott hurdler took control of

the race from the second-last under Shane Cotter to win by 16 lengths

“Tod ay wa s a le arni ng exercise to see where we were with him He’ll stay in opens for now and we’ll see where we are after that,” Christie’s son and namesake said.

Ellen Doyle continued her strong start to the year in fouryear-old maidens, as They Want Me made a winning debut in the Goffs Arkle Salesponsored contest.

The €16,000 Tattersalls Ireland Derby sale purchase struck the front at the last under Brian Dunleavy, and his two-length defeat of Swindon Village was the second winner in the age group in February for the Baltimore stables team, a tally that was increased the next day at Kildorrery

“We loved the pedigree at the sale and he was a good, fine, big horse for the money, so you

couldn’t leave him behind,” Doyle’s brother James said. “He stands a tall horse. He’s a gorgeous horse, jumps well and does everything right.”

Wexford stables also won the Cavan Developments fiveyear-old geldings’ maiden when the €82,000 purchase Additional Time created a favourable impression for Matthew Flynn O’Connor

Third at Boulta on his debut in November, Brian Lawless’s mount had victory sewn up before the last as he cruised to a six-length defeat of Moylussa. He will now be offered for sale Kerlogue may have been the only newcomer in the line-up for the EMS Copiers and INHSC older geldings’ maiden, but he made light of his inexperience when repelling the persistent challenge of Mon Meilleur Ami to give Wexford handler Vincent Devereux his first success of the season.

Au Fleuron and Shane Cotter win the open for novice riders

last season for Colin McKeever, the Presentinggelding wasina leagueofhis ownonhis first start since August,asNoel McParlan remained motionlessinthe saddle as the pair crossed theline twoand threequarter lengths ahead of Josies Dylan.

“Hehad his best runasa five-year-old around herelast year and he went acoupleof

places be tt er this time,” McCaldin said. “Noelgavehim averygood ride and we will probably go to awinners’race in afew weeks somewhere.”

DUHALLOW AT KILDORRERY SUNDAY

‘I’m speechless’ –Lisleigh Ladwin shocks Broderick

THE Eleanor Broderick-owned and trained LisleighLad (below) produceda dominant display in winning avintage Coolmore NH Stallion and John McSweeneyLivestock Hauliers open.

On hisfirst foray into open grade,the six-year-old edged past longtime leader King Alex before the third-lastonlytobe overtaken by 2020 Galway Platewinner E Doorstwo out.

Thewinner, a sonofDansant, is ateak-tough customer and he sto rm ed back into the lead at thefinal fence unde r DarraghAllen t beat Early Doors twolengths

Star performance MagicBoum justified notablesupport to make theperfect starttoher career

“I’m speechlessasIwasn’t exp ec tin gt hat ,” for mer amateur rider Brodericksaid of Lisleigh Lad, one of fivehorses she trains at her Ballyarthur base outsideFermoy.

“Hejustwasn’t rightwhen he pulledupina winners’race at Turtulla lastmonth.Credit to my vet, Conor O’Brien, for gettinghim right. Lisleigh Lad will nowgotoThurles fora hunter chaseinearly March.”

MarieHarding,the meeting’s former longstandingsecretary,

TIPPERARY AT LISRONAGH SUNDAY

LISRONAGHhas proved a lucky course forthe husbandand-wife team of Bennyand JennyWalsh, who were responsible forsaddlingafour-yearoldwinning newcomer for the second successiveyear.

Lastyear theyintroducedBill Joycetowin thefour-year-old geldings’maiden and 48 hours after the £225,000 buylanded his second bumper for new trainer Jonjo O’Neill at Exeter, theywerebackatthe Tipperary venue to winthe Goffs Aintree Sale four-year-old mares’ maiden with Settle Down Jill Oneofthree marestojump the lastholdingevery chance, th ed ep ar tu re of the challenging KelyaWood left the Affinisea-siredmareto powerthree lengths clear of CrescentMoon.

“She wasinthe Arkle Sale and Iremember goingdownto see her,but she waswithdrawn,”JennyWalsh said.

“She came backfor theJuly StoreSaleand we seemed to be the only onesfor her.Icouldn’t believeitasshe’s abeautiful mare. We’rejustdelighted.”

kept her many local supporters happybysaddlingthe hooded Grainne AChroi to earn a t success under inO’Brien in heGain Equine N utr ition, Cr os smor e Ty re s Recyclingand Th or nhi lls Opticiansfiveand six-year-old ares’ maiden. avingprovided ample indication of ab il it yo nh er de bu ta t DromahaneinlateDecember when aclosethird before unseatingatthe final fence,the MountNelson-sired mare went to the frontafter the fifth fence

Although makingacouple of jumpingerrors, Grainne A Chroi wasn’t found wantingin the closingstagesasshe stayed on st ou tly to be at Jo dy Townend’s mount, How’s Hannah,bytwo anda half lengths

“She’s aclassmarewho is fast, butshe is notreallybig enough for point-to-point fences,” Hardingsaid of the half-sistertotwo smartracecourse winningmares in Gaillimh ARun and Gaillimh A Stor,owned by Eileen O’Brien.

“She’s nowqualifiedfor the mares’ point-to-pointbumper at CorkonEaster Mondayand her ownerswill be keepingher toracethemselves.”

Ellen Doyle, alsoonthe mark wi th Th ey Wa nt Me at Punchestown the previous afternoon, sent outwell-touted newcomer MagicBoum towin the Tattersalls NH, Vaughan Family andDairygoldfouryear-old mares’ maiden.

TheBuck’sBoum-sired €22,000Derbysalegraduate, wasalwayspositionedonthe pace with BrianDunleavyand she made the best of her way hom ef ro mt hr ee ou tt o account for Claim Du Brizais by twoand ahalf lengths

“Weboughther from the Cummins of Rathurtin Stud and theyrecommendedher highly. Shehas alwaysworked well and will nowbesold,”said Doyle’sbrother James.

John Aherne, a20-year-old from nearby Mitchelstown, partnered his secondwinner on Arthur O’Grady’s Malinas Glory in the Munster Van

Centreand BlueGrassHorse Feedsadjacent huntsnovice riders’ maiden.

Theex-trackperformer, representingthe Glory Days Syndicate, went one better than on his points debutat Ballyvodockthree wee ks earlier by leadingfromthe fifth fence to beat DeltaMelody by a length

RayBarron, on the mark on CharlesByrnes’sMadge A Chroi in theThurles bumper three days earlier,madehis onl ym ou nt of the daya wi nnin go ne on Shadow Chaser for owner-trainer John Gle es on in the Ha nle ys Bu tchers fiv e-y ear -old geldings’maiden.

ShadowChaser, having afirst startfor his connections,came from offthe pace to lead after twoout to beat Benwiskenby nine lengths Ha ndl er -r ide rM ik ey O’Connorisalwaysanindividualtobefeared at this fix tu re and he ga ve Therellbguddaysyet –afine third on his debutatInchydoneylastMay –aconfident ride to land the Rathbarry Stud and STRScrap Metal Dealers older geldings’maiden. Therellbguddaysyet ledfrom three fences ou tt ob ea t Famous Liss by four and ahalf lengths

Settle Down Jill strikesfor Walshes

Star performance

Jo

KelyaWood’s rider, Rob James,had better fortunein the Knockanglass Stablesand Orchardstown Stud five-yearold geldings’maiden when he combinedsuccessfully with Kildarehandler IanMcCarthy for the second timeoverthe weekend.

Twenty-four hours afterthe duo wonatPunchestown with Eyes OffAnnie, theycollected with Jo Coko,who outbattled fellow newcomer Epic West by ahalf alength

“He’salovelyhorse and I’ve liked him all along. He’s a French-bred andjusttooka little bit of time,” McCarthy said.

“He’sverystraightforward

and, hopefully, he’ll head to the sales now. He will improve with time.”

Jo hn St au nt on als o completed aweekend double Aday after sendingout Small Town Hero to make awinning debutatFarmacaffley, the Galway handler addedthe Sladdagh Farmsfour-year-old geldings’maidentohis haul with Fiddaun

Thewell-backedRockonliam wasupsides the favourite when fallingatthe final fence, which allo wed De re k O’Connor’smount to return four lengths clear of the staying-on FortunateFella.

“H e’sag ra nd hors e,” Staunton said. “He’squickand haddone nice work around Boulta and up the Curraghas we ll, so we we re fai rly confidentcominghere.”

Moyne rider David Doyle has alr eady ha dt hr ee tr ac k victories butheadded afirst in

the pointingfieldswhen Graigue Corner bounced back to forminthe Connolly’sRed Mills older maiden.

Nick Stokes’s six-year-old hadbeenbeaten 40 lengths at Comeaafortnightearlier,but he recaptured the promiseof his Knockanohill secondlast Ma rc hw hen beatin gt he consistent Walk Easybyfour lengths

“He’salwayspromised to do that buthe’sjusthad one or twosmall issues,” Stokes said. “Hejumps well and it’s greatto giveDavid hisfirst point-topointwinner.”

English riderHugoHuntalso gained his firstpointing victory in Irelandwhen TheWest’s Awake took advantage of the fourth-lastfencedepartureof 1-8 fa vou ri te Li fe tim e Ambition, who unseated Susie Doyle,inthe CamasParkand Summerhill Studs open.

The26-year-old winning

rider hadpreviously achieved tracksuccessinBritain,having spenttimeworkingfor Nicky He nde rs on ,a nd is no w assistanttrainer to Edward O’Grady.

Hunt held off the late efforts of Imnottalkingtoyouonthe O’Grady-trainedveteran to prevail by alength and ahalf “I’d liketoget morerides but at themomentI’m enjoyingthe variety,”Huntsaid. “Someday I’dliketotrain butI’m not quite ready for it yet. Ijustwantto keep learning.”

Luke Murphyisalready combiningthe role of riding and trainingand Think It Through broughthim his second successasa handler when he par tner ed hi s Vendangeur-sired mare to make all in beatingShantou Princess by four lengths in the Kirbys Pharmacy and Tattersalls NH five- and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Pictures: HEALYRACING

Commander Of Tenand Troy Walshleadthe field over the final fencetolandthe Mullan Family winner-of-one

Coko clockedthe quickesttimeonthe card in making awinning debutfor in-form connections

TheWest’sAwake andHugo Huntontheirway to victoryfor trainer Edward O’Grady

DerekO’Connor Straight to thePoint Doyle’sdoublestrikehighlights stable strength in youthsquad

ELLENDOYLE’S bright starttothe four-year-old campaign stepped up a gear at the weekend with wins for They Want Me at Punchestown on Saturdayand Magic Boum at Kildorrery on Sunday.

TheWexfordhandler wasquickly off the mark in this agegroup with the promisingIdaho ValleyatTallow acouple of weeks agoand had horses placedatOldtownand Knockanard the following weekend.

Irodethe favourite,Swindon Village,for Ellmarie Holden in the Punchestown race.He’sagood prospectbut wasonly gettinggoing late in the race,stayingonfor second behind They Want Me,who jumped wellfor Brian Dunleavy. Thewinner is by Sageburg and is ahalf-brother to severalmultiple winners, including two who won a point-topointfirsttime out, StormControl and Tagrita StormControl, aLisronaghwinner for Donnchadh Doylein2017, has wonfiveraces over fences for Kerry Lee, includingavaluable Grade 3 stayinghandicap chaseat Cheltenham in 2020, while Tagrita,a Ballindenisk winner for Declan Queally, wonseven of her 14 races for Paul Nicholls.

At Kildorrery,Magic Boum,a French-bred fillybyBuck’sBoum, took control of the race three outand justifiedagood home reputation by beatingthe TomDreaper-trained Claim Du Brizais

My west of Ireland neighbour John Staunton alsohit thetargetwith his twofour-year-old runners at the weekend. He sent Small Town Hero north to FarmacaffleyonSaturday and the JetAwaygeldingbattled well for Eoin Mahon to beat Warren Ewing’srunner WhinneyHill by a neck.The runner-up is ahalf-brother to the top-classBellshill, so this was agood scalp for Small Town Hero to take.

On SundayI rode Fiddaun for John at Lisronagh, andthis Getaway geldingwon well from the Mick Gofff-trainedFortunateFella.I was confidentwehad the measureof Rockonliam when that rivalfell at the last.

Therewas alsoalast-fence incidentinthe mares’ maiden at Lisronagh. Settle Down Jill, trained by BennyWalsh and ridden by Barry

Stone,took thehonours after Sam Curling’srunner KelyaWoodcame down when disputingthe lead. Settle Down Jill is outofahalfsister to Nietzsche,aversatile horse for Brian Ellison, winner of fiveraces on the Flat andseven over jumps. He hadhis bigmomentwhen winning the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham. Settle Down Jill is out of amarebyHalling, alsothe damsire of Saturday’swinner Small Town Hero

In the five-year-old category, Warren Ewingwas responsible for one of the best performances of

‘Grainne AChroi looked like anicesort when winninga maiden at Kildorrery forMarie Harding’

the weekend with the victoryof Cabaret Prince at Farmacaffley. The Doyengelding wasastylish winner, an 11th successofthe season for Dara McGill whoisleadingthe way in the race for the under-21 title Another sonofDoyen, Commander Of Ten, wasthe firstleg of a Farmacaffleydouble for trainer Aidan Fitzgerald and rider Troy Walsh

Maxine O’Sullivan rode the David Christie-trainedWinged Leader to a popularwin in the open at the northern fixture. On the nextday his new stablemateAuFleuron, who startedlife as a bumper winner for Denis Murphyand wonoverhurdles for Gordon Elliott, made afine starttohis point-to-pointcareer by winningthe novice riders’openat Punchestown by abig margin under Shane Cotter, his thirdwin from 17 rides in his firstseason.

TheWest’sAwake,a six-time

winner on the trackfor Edward O’Grady, made his point-to-point debutatTallowearlier this month He’s 13 nowbut showed there’s plenty of life left in him when landing the open at Lisronagh, taking advantage after thelongodds-on favourite Lifetime Ambition made a mistakeand unseated his rider four out. It wasthe firstsuccess in Ireland for Hugo Hunt, who’sworkingasan assistanttothe Ballynonty trainer Therewas asurprisewinner of the open at Kildorrery.Lisleigh Lad, a six-year-old ownedand trainedby EleanorBroderick, producedatough battlingdisplayfor DarraghAllen to beat Enda Bolger’s recentOldtown winner EarlyDoors. Thefive-year-old MountNelson mare Grainne AChroi looked likea nice sort when winningamaiden at Kildorrery for MarieHarding, who is planningtorun her in the point-topointbumperatCork’sEaster Mondayfixture. Shehas alovely pedigreebeingout of Gaillimh Na Chroi, aFlemensfirthmarewho won twoofthree bumper starts, including aListedcontestatSandown in 2014.

She’salreadythe dam of three winners on the track, including Gaillimh ARun, who wontwice in bumpers for the Queallystable last season, and Eric McNamara’s recent maiden hurdle winner MagDillane At Lisronagh, therewas an interestingwinner of the older mares’ maiden. Thefive-year-old newcomer ThinkItThrough,trained and ridden by Luke Murphy, is a sister to Loughglynn, winner of a Grade 2novicehurdle at Limerick’s Christmas meeting.

Their sireVendangeurisaGalileo horse. WhenIwenttolookuphis race recordIwas interestedtofind he finishedsecond to Getaway–one of the mostinfluential sires on the point-to-pointscene –ina Group3 race at Longchampin2006 and reversed the formwhen theymet again in the Group2PrixChaudenay at the same track.

ThebestofVendangeur’s progeny hasbeenArzal, who wasabrilliant front-runningwinnerofa Grade 1 novice chaseatAintree for Harry Whittington in 2016 but unfortunately never ranagain.

They Want Me (right) continues Ellen Doyle’sstrongstart to thefour-year-old campaign with adebut victoryatPunchestown onSaturday

HEALYRACING

❝WhenIwenttotheBeechestolookatthestallionsthereRobertpulledoutBolshoiBallet andIwasveryimpressedwithhimIhavetosay.Hestoodupabeautiful-lookinghorse, hewalkedveryeasilywithgreatathleticismandverycorrect.Thenwhenhestoodup IremembersayingtoRobertyouknowthisfellacouldwinattheRDS; helookslikeacompletechampion.❞ FRANK MOTHERWAY

“a beautiful-lookinghorse, superb movement, well-balanced –a gorgeoushorse.”

WILLKINSEY,PEEL BLOODSTOCK

“Bolshoi Ballet is a lovely big, scopey, correct horse with a big walk and a nice temperament as well. Very athletic, good shoulder, backend following through – I just like him.”

ROBERT ROBINSON, DISTILLERY STUD

“IthoughtBolshoiBalletwasa lovelyindividualandaverygood mover.Lookingforwardtoseeing hisfirstfoalsnextyear.”

RICHARD ROHAN

1st BelmontDerbyInvitationalStakes-Gr.1,1m2f,Belmont Park

1st SwordDancerStakes-Gr.1,1m4f,Saratoga by 4½ lengths

1st DerrinstownStudDerbyTrialStakes-Gr.3,1m2f,Leopardstown,by 6 lengths

1st BallysaxStakes-Gr.3,1m2f,Leopardstown,by 2¼ lengths

1st 2YO Maiden,1m,Leopardstown,by 4 lengths earning TDN Rising Star status