Ksar D’Oudairies dominates at Castletown-Geoghegan on the first weekend of the season Reports, pages 4-5
AR IS BORN
AKSARISBORN
O’CONNOR
‘One thing I’d like to see this se committees working harder to meetings attractive as family d Page 2
young race caller talks about the moments thave shapedhim Page 3 N e The that
NFOCUS CIAN CASSIDY
‘Some kids get up and sing asong but I’d get up and make up acommentary. I’ve been doing that since I was four years old’
GORE POINT won a bumper by 4¾ lengths on Monday for Anthony Honeyball and owner/breeders Mark & Liz Pendarves
WONLEG scored over hurdles on his rules debut on 30 Sept for Henry de Bromhead
DerekO’Connor Straight to thePoint
It’s good to be back forautumn campaign with some freshtalent
WELCOMEtothe new season which began at Toomebridge in the north last Saturday, the first of 27 fixturesinan autumn campaign that will rununtil ashort break afterthe second weekend of December.
Theeastern region, which got under waywith Sunday’s Castletown-Geogheganmeeting, will be mostbusyoverthe nexttwo months,with 12 fixtures.
Thesouthernregionhosts seven, with four eachinthe north and the west,closetohome for me,wherewe kick off with the popular Galway Blazers meetingatLoughrea next Sunday.
If youwantanexample of somethinggood in racingresulting from acrisis, youcouldn’t think of a better one than the autumn point-topointseason introducedtomakeup for the lossoffixturescaused by the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001. That came at an early stageofmy career.Ittransformedthe point-topointsector by making the production of younghorsesa viable year-longactivity for handlers
They soon developed a professional approachgeared to a cycleofbuyingstore horses, preparingthem for ashop-window maiden win, sellingatauction and reinvestingthe profits in fresh stock and new facilities
Lookingback, it wassuchan obvious development. It took acrisis to bringitintobeing. Theautumn season worksonseveral levels.It’s not simplyaquestion of the business model. It provides opportunities for horses who needed more time than the early maturingyoungsters offered for sale at the major spring sales
Oneofthe greatboasts we can make for Irish-producedpointersis that so many enjoydurable careers Forthat to happen theymustn’t be asked to do toomuch toosoon.
Insteadofrushinga slower developer in the winter and spring, handlers cantakeamorepatient approach, allowing them to strengthen with the benefit of another summer beforeheadingtoa maiden point. Expecttosee many of thesetypes in action in the nextten weeks
Another benefit of aseasonlasting
from the beginningofOctober to the end of Mayisthat it gives young riders moreopportunities to build experience than in the past.
I’ve beeninvolved with the trainingofyoung riders for several
‘Lastseason Winged Leader helped boost theprofile of ShaneCotter, whoended up the championunder-21 rider’
pointracing remains partofa tradition in localcommunities Activities for children and families areimportantsoour fixturesremain well attendedwithabit of buzz anda senseofoccasion.
Onebig wish for the new season is somethingout of ourcontrol, the weather.Therewas adifficult spell lastwinter with aseriesof cancellations that seriouslydisrupted the schedule.Itthreatenedtohavea majornegativeimpact as horses missed engagementsbeforethe allimportantsales.Fortunately, committees and organisers in all parts of the countryworkedhardto find alternativedates
ALL of us involved in the sportappreciate the huge amount of voluntaryworkinvolved in the organisation and runningoffixtures. We’realso grateful to the landowners who make venues available and to IHRB and HRI for supportingand promoting the sport. We can’t do anything aboutthe weather butifthings go againstuseveryone needstowork togethertofind solutions
Winter came early to some parts of the countrylastweekend butthere were no problems at the opening fixtures.
BonapartesRetreat gives RobJames
hisfirst successofthe season in thefouryear-old maiden at Castletown-Geoghegan
years now. Youcan teach alot through trainingprogrammes,and there’s agood system in place.Atthe same time,there’snosubstitute for race-ridingexperience
others will become top-ranking amateurs in demand for bumpers, hunter chases and other amateur races
Races confinedtonovice riders are an importantfeature of our sport.The first one of the new season took place at CastletownGeoghegan, wonby Josh Williamson on Au Fleuronfor David Christie Lastseason, Au Fleuron and stablemateWinged Leader helped boost the profile of Shane Cotter, who endedupthe champion under-21 rider with 15 winners in his firstseason.
Afew of ourbestyoung riders will graduate to the professionalranks,
Some will find their niche in pointto-pointingand maynot have great ambitions to do anymorethanthat. Whatever level ouryoung riders, men and women, hopetoreach,they need race-ridingexperience
Oneofmymain hopes for every new season is to see fresh talenton the scene
Another thingIwould liketosee this season is point-to-point committees workingharder than ever to make their localmeetingas attractiveaspossible as afamily day outwithafocus on awiderange of activities and entertainment.
There’sbeengreat progressinthis area in recentyearsbut with so many competingattractions we must stay on top of things so that point-to-
Champion handler Colin Bowe wasquickly into his stride with Auntie Laceyinthe openingmaiden at Toomebridge.The Getawayfilly hadthe benefit of arun last season and gotBarry O’Neilloff the mark Barrysharedlastyear’s title with RobJames, who hadhis firstwinner of the season on the Bowe-trained Bonapartes Retreatinthe second division of the four-year-old maiden at Castletown-Geoghegan.
Iwas pleased with my French-bred newcomer Ksar D’Oudairies, who wonthe firstdivision by 12 lengths under Eoin Mahon.
Noel McParlan rode the smartlookingShabalkoD’Hermtowin the four-year-old geldings maiden at Toomebridge forGer Quinnand completedatrebleona pair of Caroline McCaldin-trainedwinners Severalother leadinghandlers were on the scoresheet too.Ellen Doylehad awinner in the north,and Aidan Fitzgerald, Sean Doyle andPat Doylesaddled winnersonSunday’s card.It’sgood to be back.
Cian Cassidy (right)talks about hisevolution as an up-and-coming race caller
GROWING up, commentating wassomething I alwayswantedto do.When you’re young, some kidsget up and singasongorwhatever,but I would getupand make up a commentary. I’ve beendoing that since Iwas four or five years old and I’m23now Ihavefoursiblings –weare Ireland’s only quintuplets –and, as acoincidence,my brother Rory is actually a commentator too. He workswith Athletics Ireland butithas alwaysbeen point-to-pointingfor me
Ialwayswentracingat weekends as both grandads were into point-to-points and latermyuncle RichardBusher gotbig into thehorses too.
He is well known nowinthe store-horsebusiness and sold Monkfish and Bravemansgame to the Doyles back in the day.
I’mfromBridgetown in County Wexfordand Iknowa good few riders in the area Jack Hendrick, JamieScallan and Tiernan Powerwenttothe same school as me.
NEWS AND VIEWS
‘Myfirst daycommentating at Lingstownwas pretty special, apinch-memoment’
Joanne Corish is only down the road, and BennyWalsh is over the road too– I’ve known Bennyfor years.Jamie Codd is only acouple of miles down the road. Thereisnoshortage of point-to-pointpeople around here.
Luckily, Igot my firstchance inpoint-to-pointingto commentate on arace livefor the firsttime at Kirkistown at the end of the 2020-21 season.
It wasa lovely dayand I couldn’t have gota nicer track.
Eoghain Ward and Richard Pugh of p2p.ie were very good to me therewith the trackthey startedmeat.
ThecourseatKirkistown is all in one field so you have a perfectview of everything. You could nearly do it sittinginthe carifyou wanted to!
I’dhad plenty of practice but Iwas stillslightly nervous. At leastI knew Ihad Eoghain besidemeifanythingwenttoo
badlywrong. It wasreally enjoyable,though,toget it under my belt and, thankfully, Ihaven’t looked backsince Lingstownisour localtrack and my firstday commentating therein November 2021 waspretty special; it was akindof pinch-me moment. It canbea tricky trackto commentate on though.Being right besidethe coastyou canbeexposed to the elements and you commentate from the back straight so the winningpost canbequite far away Ihad that lastyear at the autumn fixture when the weather gotprettybad.The visibility wasterrible,
especiallyfor the older mares’ maiden. They disappeared from view leavingthe back straight andnever really came backintoclear view at all. Thankfully, the good days make up for the challenging ones! Icovered the point-topointat Punchestown in February, which wasa greatchanceto getona racecourse. You don’t getopportunities likethat very often.
When Iwas nine years old, RichardPugh broughtmeup to the commentaryposition in the stand beside himwhen he wascommentating. Little did I think that I’deverend upthere myself one day.
To preparefor ameetingI
getthe entries on aTuesdayas soonastheycloseand start lookingoverthem.Ialsoget sent the PDF card and start goingthrough that. Itend to do half an hour to an hour lookingthrough that each evening.
By Saturdayevening Iwould have agood idea of the runners and it’s just the French names that you have to give that bit of extraattention to.I look up the pronunciation on Google Translatebut Eoghain isgreat forhelpingwithany I can’t get. Then Iwould take outthe racecard andmarkout the mapofthe courseonit.
Theracecardsfromp2p.ie alreadyhavethe maps in so I just add in the fence numbers and go through those.
On the race dayIdomostof my work from when the jockeys mountinthe parade ring andwhile the horses are on their waytothe start.
It makesmyjob easieron courses whereyou cansee the horses in the parade ring and the whole waytothe startfrom the commentatingposition Ireally love point-topointing, it’s all I’ve known and Imuchprefer it to the track. Youcan getupcloser to the horses, to the fence and to the action at point-to-points It’s also greatseeingall the four- andfive-year-olds comingthrough and following them to the track.
Iwas reportingatthe pointto-pointinMonksgrangewhen Corach Rambler wonhis maiden and Iwas in Lingstown the dayGerri Colombe won. It’s greattofollowthosenice horses from the start, allthe waythrough their careers I’mlookingforward to my firstday of theseason at Peppard’sCastlethis month CIAN CASSIDYWAS TALKING TO DEBBIE McCRELLIS
We’reoff ...withnew tracks andfixtures
THE startofthe season hada traditional look as Toomebridge and Castletown-Geoghegan again ha dt he ho nour of opening the campaign.
In al l, 27 fi xt ur es ar e scheduledfor the two-and-ahalf-month autumn season, which runs until the Christmas break starts on December8. Thereare anumberofminor changes to the pre-Christmas term. Just twofixtureswill take place this weekend at Portrush and Loughrea as the Shillelagh andDistrict fixture at Tinahely movestothe end of the month when it will be partofa doubleheaderwithTattersalls on Sunday, October27.
TheIsland hunt will have a new trackfor their fixture on Sunday,O ctober 20. The courseatBallycrystal hadbeen planned for the fixturewhen the listwas publishedbut it has sincebeenannouncedthat Co un ty We xfor dv en ue Peppard’sCastlewill hostits firstpoint-to-pointthis month, having initially been due to feature earlier in theyear Ballycrystalstillfeatureson the autumn calendar,with the Ballinagorehunt, which usually holds its fixture at the Wexford ve nu ei nJ an uar y, no w scheduledtorun amonth earlier,onSunday, December 8. Twenty-four hours earlier, the Clonmult and Dungourney
fixture at Boulta movestoa Saturday, which avoidsaclash with the Hilly WayChase card at Corkthe following dayand will pleaseracegoersinthe area whotakeinboth fixtures.
Insurancebringssome welcome certainty
Theseason began on apositive note with the announcement that the insurance policywhich covers more than half the fixturesinthe calendar has beenrenewed until summer 2025.
Insurance became ahot topicin2022 when several fixtureswerecancelledwhile surety wassourced to coverthe sportand hunt clubswhich stagefixtures.
Despitethe establishmentof the National Hunt Steeplechase, Point-to-Point, and Fi eld Sp or ts In sur ance Pr og ra mm e( NH SP FS) , insurance difficultiesarose again ayear later in April2023 when the policywas duefor renewal, leadingtofurther reschedulingoffixturesand cancellations.
Since then, work hasbeen under waytobolster funds that supportthe policy, with a temporaryinsurance levy of €35 beingappliedtothe registration of hunter certificates and a€10 levy on entries last season.
In itsfirst year,both raised morethan€200,000 and the levies will remain in place this season with asimilar situation expectedfor the 2025-26 campaign
Wr itin gi nt he INHS C autumn newsletter,Jill Farrell, the new chairperson of the INH SC, we lc ome dt he improved insurance situation.
“The NHSPFS managed to negotiate an extension to the
currentpolicywhich thankfully seesits expirydatemoved into summer2025,beyond theend of the 2024-25 season, givinga degree of certainty to all pointto-pointindustrystakeholders goingintonextseason,”she wrote
“While nobodyknows what the futurewillbring, all sectors of theindustrycan be proudof coming together last season to agreesignificantfinancial
contributions for point-topointinsurance for athreeyear period,whichwillbe reviewed in summer 2026.”
Coolmoreincentive reapsimmediate return
Following the successoflast season’sinitiative, Coolmore Stud hasannouncedthe return of the CoolmoreNationalHunt incentive,wherebybreeders of an open four-orfive-year-old Irish point-to-point maiden winner sired by anyCoolmore jumpsstallion, pastorpresent, receivea €1,000 credit
Thecreditcan be applied to anynomination to aCoolmore jumpssirefor the 2025 breeding season. Breeders canaccumulate multiple credits butjustone per nominationcan be used.
Theopening contestofthe season producedaqualifier when Au nt ie Lace y, by Getaway, wonthe four-yearold maresmaidenatToomebridge for Colin Bowe.Bredby Bu tt ev an t- bas ed far ri er WilliamFitzgerald, sheisthe firstfoalout of Auntie Mary,a half-sister to Grade 1Irish Gold Cupand Savills Chasewinner Conflated, who is by Yeats.
“Point-to-points arethe grassrootsofIrish racingand play avital role in developing futurestars,”said Coolmore’s AlbertSherwood. “The success of lastseason’sincentive
showedhow much breeders appreciate beingrecognised for their efforts and it’s fantastic to be able to reward themfor their success in the point-topointfield.”
Four-year-old maidens receiveaboost
Hopes of abumperautumn in the four-year-oldmaiden division were bolstered on Sundaywhen the four-year-old maiden at the Westmeath Foxhounds fixtureinCastletown-Geoghegan received sufficientdeclarationsfor the race to be divided.
With the exception of the expan de d2 02 0a ut umn campaign,which wasrequired to offset thelossofthe year’s spring campaign due to Covid, therehas not beena division on the openingweekend of the season in the last decade
Thefirstdivision of that fouryear-old maidenwas wonin dominantfashionbythe newcomer Ksar D’Oudairies He is the thirdw inner between the flagsinthe age groupin2024 for his sireCastle Du Berlais,following Kosac D’OudairiesinMarch and Manhattan Valley in May.
With just eightindividual horses to have runfor him in the sphereinthe last 18 months,it is anotable strike-ratefor the half-brother to Sire Du Berlais
Auntie Lacey scoopsthe Coolmore incentivebonus for her breeder William Fitzgerald with success at Toomebridge
MID-ANTRIM AT TOOMEBRIDGE SATURDAY
Shabalko the star as McParlan starts title defence with treble
BARRY O’NEILL, who has won the last eight leading riders’ titles, last season as joint wi nner wi th Ro b Ja mes , opened this term with a double at the Toomebridge meeting in County Antrim
However, he was overshadowed by reigning northern re gion ch am pion No el McParlan, who rode a treble, two seconds and a third from his six rides
O’Neill was first to strike when winning the season’s opener, the Noel Kelly fouryear-old mares’ maiden, on Auntie Lacey, trained by Colin Bowe, who has dominated the handlers’ championship for the last ten years
Two and a quarter lengths back in second was James on Clody Diamond, with County Down jockey McParlan in third on Belle De Vassy, trained by Ger Quinn.
Stepping up considerably on her Castlelands debut in March when she finished tailed off, improved ground conditions allowed Auntie Lacey to find the required improvement.
“It was a decent race and she was as game as a pebble,” Bowe said. “That’s a lovely start to the season and she will now be offered for sale.”
In the next race, the Dennison Commercials four-year-old geldings’ maiden, McParlan and Quinn turned the tables on their rivals when Shabalko D’Herm beat Northanger Abbey by five and a half lengths
Always to the fore, the French-bred son of Balko asserted on the run to the final fence, from where he easily accounted for the more experienced Northanger Abbey.
Local handler Quinn was not surprised by the manner of victory of the €36,000 Derby sal e pu rc ha se , ha vin g impressed in training.
Star performance
Shabalko D’Herm justified his position at the top of the market as he proved to be in a league of his own
“His work at home is unbelievable I’ve always thought a lot of him and when anyone asked me I told them I thought he was good enough to be a Graded horse,” Quinn said.
“He would have been seen to even better effect on a more galloping track but he was ready to go and I was confident he would win. He’ll now be sold.”
McParlan was not out of the first two for the rest of the afternoon, with Caroline McCaldin responsible for his two other winners
In the third race, the Raymart five-year-old geldings’ maiden, the pair combined with the eyecatching grey son of Joshua Tree Jim The Wolf, who was unlucky here in May when carried out after taking a share of the lead. He deserved the compensation of beating the Tralee runner-up Milan Forth by four and a half lengths
Owned by McCaldin’s father, Wilson Dennison, connections indicated the winner would be offered for sale
It was O’Neill’s turn in the fourth race, the Dennison JCB winner-of-one, when the Leon Tormey-owned nine-year-old Tech Talk followed up his course victory a year and a half ago. A good jump at the last was key to his victory by a length and a quarter over Mc Pa rlan on the Qu inntrained Cadoudal Saint.
“He’s a lovely horse, a real cross-country and banks horse,” handler Tom Dreaper said. “He got a brilliant ride from Barry and it’s brilliant to get the season off to a good start.
“He’ll probably head to
Lingstown or Knockanard next for a banks race and back to Punchestown for the Ladies Cup.”
The McParlan-O’Neill show was interrupted in the Jamie Sloan Racing five-year-oldand-upwards mares’ maiden when She Is For Me Boys left her more experienced rivals trailing to give Wexford-based handler Ellen Doyle and jockey Brian Dunleavy a two-length victory over Perth runner-up Bayonetta.
The latter was partnered by McParlan, who completed his hat-trick in the last race, the James Kernohan and Sons older geldings’ maiden on Hornet Nolimit
A winners’ race will be next for the seven-year-old after being off the track since finishing fourth at Portrush two years earlier
The Kitkou gelding was another to benefit from racing prominently, crossing the line four lengths clear of Speedy Box with McParlan motionless.
Jim The Wolf (above) and Shabalko D’Herm (right) form the first two legs of a Noel McParlan Toomebridge treble
WESTMEATH AT CASTLETOWN-GEOGHEGAN SUNDAY
Ksar D’Oudairies promises bright future with easy win
DEREK O’CONNOR has a cracking prospect in Ksar D’Oudairies who readily beat his rivals on his debut in the first division of the four-yearold maiden.
The eye-filling son of Castle Du Berlais is out of a half-sister to Grade 1-placed hurdler Fils D’Oudairies and was the only newcomer in the eight-runner field.
Ksar D’Oudairies was always close to the lead as Pucking With Paul and the favourite Kamikaz Du Plessis vied for supremacy. Kamikaz Du Plessis injected fresh pace into the race setting out on the final circuit before being overtaken by Ksar D’Oudairies and Executive Producer two out.
Ksar D’Oudairies then easily came clear under Eoin Mahon and the Leamore Horses Partnership-owned bay returned with 12 lengths to spare over Kamikaz Du Plessis, who mastered Executive Producer for second in the closing stages
“He’s a most likeable horse who jumps and stays well,” O’Connor said before going to Tipperary to ride in the bumper where he finished eighth on the Hilary McLoughlin-trained Cool Summer
“Anna Calder, who bought him [for €58,000] at the Goffs Arkle sale last year, got injured in the spring and she asked me to take this fellow and another horse.”
Last season’s joint-champion Rob James opened his account for the campaign on the Colin Bowe-trained Bonapartes Retreat in the second division of the maiden.
Bonapartes Retreat, who pulled up on his only start at Ta tt ers alls in Ap ri l, wa s bounced out in front upsides Kerboissy and gave a superb display of fencing.
The Sholokhov-sired winner, a €45,000 Derby sale graduate, was already in command when throwing a spectacular leap at the last and beat newcomer
Star performance
Ksar D’Oudairies clocked the quickest time on the card when making a 12-length winning debut
Honesty Policy by two and a half lengths in the familiar Milestone Bloodstock Ltd silks
“He’s a lovely horse with a superb attitude and he should make a smashing chaser,” reigning champion Bowe said of Bonapartes Retreat, whose dam is a half-sister to Graded winners Sumos Novios and Cross Kennon.
Honesty Policy’s handler Pat Doyle later combined with Pa King to land the Edgemount Farm Racing five- and six-yearold geldings’ maiden with Trasna Na Pairce. The half-brother to Listed British bumper-winning mare Irish Roe, owned by Geraldine Magnier in partnership with Veronica Sherwood, led or disputed the running until
overtaken by Lanesborough two out.
However, Trasna Na Pairce regained the initiative at the last to account for Lanesborough by six and a half lengths
The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for The Guinea Hunter, who landed the closing Shortall International Transport six-year-old-and-upwards maiden. It wasn’t surprising as the winning son of Jet Away, owned by Mark Davies, is tr aine d by th e fix tu re ’s secretary, Heather Kiernan.
The Guinea Hunter, who was coming back from a 22-month absence, returned to the form that saw him finish second at Lisronagh in November 2022, taking over two out under local Castletown-Geoghegan rider Tom Geoghegan to beat Jollie Cosmos by 16 lengths.
Andrew Kennedy took his career tally to two by taking the five- and six-year-old mares’ maiden on Je Suis, owned by his aunt Liz Kennedy.
Trained by Aidan Fitzgerald, the Stradbally runner-up led from three out to see off Always Groovin by three and a half lengths
Jo sh Wi ll iams on, who recently turned 18, partnered a second points winner on David Christie’s Au Fleuron in the Midland Sport Surfaces novice riders’ open. Au Fleuron, who made an immediate impact last season by winning three of his four starts in points, picked up the running at the last to thwart Pat Coyne by three lengths in the colours of owners Ray Nicholas and Dr Sam Campbell. Sean Doyle’s Willitgoahead came home as he pleased in the Ch arlesto wn Ra cin g winners-of-two.
Representing the Monbeg Partnership, the six-year-old supplemented his success in a Ballinaboola maiden last February by leading from three out under Jamie Scallan to beat Haggard by nine lengths
Pictures HEALY
Au Fleuron gives Josh Williamson his second points success in the open
ENTRIES have a reference number to the horse’s last run, form figures (latest on right), owner, handler and exclusive rating (same scale as rules RPR).
For penalised horses we suggest deducting half a point per pound (penalties not confirmed until race-day).
Irish point-to-point entries are ordered as follows:
1 Horses whose owner has more than one entry ordered alphabetically by: (a) owner (b) horse
2 Horses whose handler has more than one entry ordered alphabetically by: (a) handler, (b) horse
3 Remaining horses, ordered alphabetically
Abbreviations: B-brought down; b-baulked; C-carried out; d-disqualified; F-fell; P-pulled up; R-ran out; r-refused; S-slipped up; U-unseated rider
LISTOWEL BUMPER WINNER!
“He'saniceprospecttogohurdling”
CHAMPAGNE KID
impressed for trainer
Pat Collins
Also in recent weeks…
THE OTHER MOZZIE won on his chasing debut at Galway yesterday for Gavin Cromwell
MADRILENE won a Group 3 Chase at Merano
SPYCATCHER won the Prix de Meautry-Gr.3 at Deauville
PALIO was a 14-length winner of a $50,000 Maiden Hurdle at Colonial Downs