Point-to-Point Weekly 10-05-23

Smooth ride for Maguire

Chauffeur Driven goes through the gears for Finny Maguire at Bartlemy Reports, pages 2-3

DEREK O’CONNOR

‘I’d like to see women riders get more opportunities. I’m not convinced we’re doing nearly enough to give young women the chance to follow the path taken by Rachael Blackmore’ Page 4

LUISACASATI won last Friday’s DaisyWarwickFillies’Stakes-L.R.

GROUP1-WINNING MILER BYMONSUN

Chauffeur Driven and Finny Maguire (near side) jump alongside eventual third Captain Boudet and Barry O’Neill

BROUGHTTOYOU BY

NH SIRES

SEASON’S LEADERS

Rhino helps Finn charge to double for champ Bowe

BERTIE FINN has been seen to good effect in recent weeks as the 19-year-old rider has benefited from increased opportunities given by Colin Bowe

Th e champi on ha ndl er supplied the Oulart rider with the second double of his career when Yo ung Ja ck to ok advantage of Never Present’s fall of to win division one of the Chasefield Stables Pre-Training five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Never Present led the field to the penultimate fence and his departure at that obstacle left the path clear for Young Jack to re ap the re wa rd s for the patience his connections had shown on his return from a 12-month break since pulling up at Ballindenisk

“Bertie gave him a great ride,” stable representative Keith Cogley said. “He was very immature last year The break has done him the world of good and he seems a much better horse now.”

Bob O Rhino had landed the Aidan Fitzgerald Racing and

Star performance

Similar Story is a mare who is improving all the time Her 12-length success was the longest winning margin on the card

CF Bloodstock four-year-old mares’ maiden to initiate the Finn-Bowe double Fifth on her debut in a typically competitive race at Loughanmore, the €18,000 Champs Elysees mare had to survive a final-fence scare to beat newcomer Little Talks by a length and a half

Irelands Call denied Finn his first treble when his mount Devilsinthedetail came up four lengths short of Donnchadh Doyle’s charge in division one of the Ta tt ersalls NH & Kilkenny Foxhounds four-yearold geldings’ maiden.

The victorious British-bred son of Jack Hobbs may have finished some 22 lengths adrift of San Frandisco at Monksgrange, but he bounced back to the promise of his Borris House

debut and booked his ticket to the sales

Irelands Call’s rider Brian Lawless again teamed up with Doyle’s Monbeg stables to complete a double for the pair with La Vega Moon in division tw o of the fi ve -y ear-ol d geldings’ maiden.

The tw ice-raced son of Pether’s Moon swept through late to overhaul the strongtravelling Inca to win by a length and a half Doyle’s younger brother Cor ma c wa s als o in the winner’s enclosure when his Chance Another One survived trouble in running in division tw o of the f ou r- ye ar-old geldings’ maiden.

The Jack Hendrick-ridden son of Laverock was almost taken out by a loose horse at an early juncture before overcoming that drama to beat Valleyview Tommy by five lengths

“He is ow ne d by Matt y O’Leary, a neighbour of mine, and I’m delighted for him as this is a nice horse,” Doyle said.

MID ANTRIM AT TOOMEBRIDGE MONDAY

Hendrick then combined with Doyle’s elder brother Sean on Si mil ar St or y , who impressed in division two of the Whytemount Stud fiveyear-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Second at Ballyragget in mid-March on her reappearance, the close relation to the 2010 Stayers’ Hurdle runner-up Time For Rupert, had to be ridden away from the fifth-last, however by the end of the back straight she had struck the fr on t and wa s soo n in command.

By the line the Mahler mare

had pulled 12 lengths clear of the experienced Jetaway To Getaway.

That success formed the middle leg of a treble for Jack Hendrick, as the 24-year-old rider then combined with Declan Queally’s Alvarez Eclipse in the older geldings’ maiden.

Third at Curraghmore on his debut, Gerard Cummins’ Double Eclipse-sired six-yearold struck the front after the last and went on to beat Paidin Beag by a length and a half He will now go for a maiden hurdle Hendrick was unlucky not to

‘He was class out there’ – Bold Enough

DAVID CHRIS TIE ’S Bold

Enough lit up the race to be come this se as on’ s champion point-to-pointer with a devastating 22-length success in the Raymart open.

The seven-year-old entered the race one win adrift of Declan Queally’s seven-time victor Rocky’s Howya after six consecutive victories and although Queally sent his recent Tramore hunter-chase winner Lord Schnitzel on an 850-kilometre round trip to the Antrim venue in a spoiling bid to halt the winning run of Bold

Enough, the marathon trip was in vain.

Barry O’Neill never had a moment’s concern on the Ray Nicholas-owned bay as he came home alone

“He was class out there. He travelled so well and jumped extremely well,” O’Neill said.

“He saw off a decent horse with any amount in hand. We’ll find an open for him next weekend

Star performance

Bold Enough took a step closer to the champion pointer title with his most impressive performance of the season

and he’ll be very tough to beat in that form.”

Ha lf an ho ur la ter the re ig ning champion ri der completed a double on Tech Talk in the Wilson Waste Collection Services older geldings’ maiden, bringing his tally to 61 for the season and his seventh successive riders’ title a step closer

His five-length defeat of Rust

To Riches was also the second leg of a weekend double for Kilsallaghan handler Tom Dreaper, who had won the last race at Bartlemy 24 hours earlier.

Noel Kelly is enjoying a purple patch and his Jorah D’Al ma con tin ue d th at

winning form by impressing on de bu t in the De nnis on Commercials four-year-old maiden.

The Draperstown handler had introduced the impressive I Can Only Imagine at Moira nine days earlier and he repeated the feat with the French-bred son of Spanish Moon.

Always to the fore under Oran McGill, an electric round of jumping from the £2,000 bargain buy helped him to a two and a half-length defeat of fellow French-bred Patriotik “He’d been showing plenty at home; he jumps very well, he is a serious lepp er, and we fancied him as he worked well alongside the horse that won in Moira last week [I Can Only Imagine],” Kelly said of the sales-bound bay.

Davidoc looked booked for third behind Kelly’s I Can Only Imagine in the Moira race before exiting at the last. He

Bold Enough lands his seventh successive win in the Raymart open

add a fourth success to his haul as his mount Scene Stealer looked set to win the opening division of the mares’ maiden when falling at the last with a clear advantage

She also brought down the pursuing Knockaneleigh Girl, leaving Mandilou to land a fortunate four-length victory under Troy Walsh

Focus Point added a fourth success of the season with an all-the-way victory in the Global Home Improvements open.

Second to Ballydesmond in a maiden hunter chase at Down

Harbour Highway rewards patient Goff with debut win

Royal six days earlier, the progressive seven-year-old showed no ill effects for the quick turnaround in beating Fairyhouse third Special Prep by ten lengths in the hands of Dan Hyde

closes on title

earned swift compensation, however, and supplied his Moira conqueror with a timely form boost with a wide-margin success in the McBurney Tr an sp o rt fiv e-y ear-old geldings’ maiden.

Donnchadh Doyle’s Davidoff gelding set a strong tempo and that pace ensured few of his rivals were involved in a race in which the finishers returned at wide intervals

At the line, Davidoc had 19 lengths to spare over the experienced Solly Attwell, with a further 16 lengths back to Ballyphilip

“His form was good He had finished placed and then unseated me when he was going to be third in a good race at Moira, so his form was stacking up and he was well capable of doing that,” Rob James said. “He’ll probably go to the Doncaster sales.”

French-breds claimed the opening three races on the

card, a sequence that was completed by Imperial Saint in the Doherty Woodshavings adjacent maiden.

The Ben Halsall-owned fiveyear-old bounced back to the promise of his Farmacaffley debut with an easy 11-length defeat of Arkle Rua for the Larne brothers Ben and Stuart Crawford.

Their brother Ross continued his own fine association with Galway rider Stephen Connor, as the pair combined to enjoy their fifth success together this season, and fourth in a month when Time For Joy battled to victory in the Dennison JCB mares’ maiden.

The Peter Boyd-owned sixyear-old was strongly pressed all the way up the straight by a mu ch -i mp rove d Ma hle rs Dream before winning by a neck on her seventh attempt.

Like the Crawford brothers’ earlier winner, this mare is likely to be offered for sale

THE Mi ck Go ff -t ra ine d Harbour Highway showed that a bright track career lies ahead with a taking debut victory under Mikey Sweeney in a division of the Goffs UK Spring Sale four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Youmzain gelding made smooth progress from three out and the €17,000 Tattersalls Ireland May sale graduate took charge approaching the final fence, where a terrific leap put the issue beyond all doubt, before beating Just One Surf by five lengths

“He’s a horse we’ve waited with to run as he was carrying a lot of condition,” Goff said of the winner who is owned by his wife Catriona and whose dam is a sister to the Grade 3-placed novice hurdling mare Dazzling Susie.

“He’s a great walking horse. That’s what made me buy him and he’ll now go to the sales.”

On an excellent afternoon for Wexford-trained horses, Colin Bowe’s Itsnoteasy went one be tt er th an on his previous start at Dromahane two weeks earlier by landing a division of the McCarthy Insurance Group five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Itsnoteasy, having his fourth start of the season, picked up the running four out and bounded clear approaching the last to beat Important Notice by 16 lengths

“H e’s a hor se who ha s improved with every run and he will make someone a lovely staying chaser,” Bowe said of Itsnoteasy, who traces back to Grade 3-placed novice hurdler Minella Storm.

Bowe and Itsnoteasy’s rider

Star performance

Chauffeur Driven outstayed fellow newcomer I See The Sea to win a shade snugly

Barry O’Neill then combined to win the second division of the same race with newcomer Inox Allen

The Masked Marvel-sired Inox Allen came from well off the pace to lead at the last before beating I Ballyadam Moon in the colours of Walter Connors, who wasn’t present due to the death of his father, Nicky Connors, a few days earlier

There were also doubles for Johnny Barry and Eoin Mahon. Barry, from nearby Conna, had his first success in a division of the Anthony & Associates Agri Consultants five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden on recent Dromahane runner-up Morning Star

The Rosemary Connorstr aine d Mo rnin g St ar,

re pr es en tin g Em met O’Gorman from Clonakilty, led from three out to beat Imperial Class by 16 lengths

Barry then rode his first winner for Tom Dreaper when capturing the Glenview Stud & Mc Ca rt hy Commer ci a ls confined maiden on Folly Master

The once-raced five-year-old Folly Master led from before two out to beat stablemate Hemicycle by eight lengths in the colours of Elaine O’Farrell, who originally hails from outside Midleton.

Mahon opened his account on Si xmil eb ri dg e-b as ed owner-trainer Robert Clancy’s Jet Away Express in the first division of the mares’ maiden.

Jet Away Express, having finished third on her previous two starts at Belclare and Dromahane, hit the front 75 yards out to deny Harr ys Annie by a length in the closest finish of the afternoon Mahon signed off on the Paurick O’Connor-trained Merry Melody in the Liam

Walshe & Associates mares’ winners of two, the victorious six-year-old leading from the last to beat the ultra-consistent Carrig Wells by a length and a half

The handler’s brother Derek O’Connor got on the scoresheet by combining with owner-trainer Rob James to collect the Tattersalls NH & Coolmore Stud four-year-old mares’ maiden on the Kingston Hill-sired newcomer Realta Liath who assumed command after two out to beat the promising Lustfull Lady by three lengths

The latter’s owner-trainer Harley Dunne continued his terrific run by sending out debutant Chauffeur Driven, a son of Soldier Of Fortune who was acquired for €62,000 at last year’s Derby sale, to oblige under Finian Maguire in the first division of the four-yearold geldings’ maiden. He beat fellow newcomer I See The Sea by a length and a half after taking over on the run-in.

(Above) Runners at the start of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Grennan won by La Vega Moon; (right) Harbour Highway (blue cap) gets the better of Just One Surf to record a debut victory under Mikey Sweeney in the fouryear-old geldings’ maiden at Bartlemy

Debutant Inox Allen (pink cap) completes a double for Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill

DerekO’Connor Straight to thePoint Next generation of male and femaletalentmustbefostered

THERE were twofixtures in the south of the countryonSunday–18 races in all –all buttwo of them maidens,and the majority attractingten runnersor more. That’s proof thereare plenty of horses in the system as we approach the final weeks of theseason.

Iwas at Bartlemy, alovelytrack producedingood order by the UnitedHuntcommittee. Iwas delightedtoridenewcomer Realta Liathtowin the four-year-old mares’ maiden for my colleague RobJames, all the moresobecause shewas bred by none other than Davy Russell.

She’sbyKingston Hill and is ahalfsister to the YeatsgeldingNorthern Poet,who hasbeeninbrilliantform latelyfor Nick Gifford, winninghis lastthree races,handicapchasesat Huntingdon, Plumpton and Warwick.

Thedam CrowningVirtueisahalfsister to Magnanimity, agood hurdler-chaserfor Gigginstown and thelateDessie Hughes.It’sthe family of the McCains’ Grand National winner Amberleigh House.

Realta Liathwon well from two fillies trainedbyHarleyDunne, who didn’t have long to waitfor compensation since his Soldier Of Fortune geldingChauffeur Driven made awinningdebut underFinny Maguireinthe firstdivision of the four-year-old geldings’maiden. Mick Goff saddledanother newcomer HarbourHighway to winthe second division.

Colin Bowe took both heats of the five-year-old maiden with the Barry O’Neill-ridden pairItsnoteasy and Inox Allen. Thelastsix races on the card were shared by just three riders since Eoin Mahon and JohnnyBarry alsohad doubles

It wasmuch the same storyat Grennan whereJackHendricktook theridinghonourswith atreble, and thereweredoubles for Bertie Finn and Brian Lawless.

Bertie’s twowinners were for Colin Bowe.The fact that he’s beengiven the responsibility to ride promising young horses for the champion handler is apositivesigninitselfand suggests he hasabrightfuture.

He’s been oneofthe season’s emergingtalents.Lastseasonhegot off the mark at BorrisHouse in Marchand endedupwith six wins

from 51 rides.Sunday’sdouble broughthim into double figuresand left him in jointsecond with Alan O’Sullivan and Brian Dunleavy in the race for the novice riders’title

They arefivebehind Dara McGill. That’s abig gaptobridgewithsofew fixturesleft, butthe Bowe teammight justhaveammunition left to give Bertie an outside chance.

On the other hand, youwould imaginethat Saturday’sfinal meeting of the northern season at Taylorstown will giveDarachances to extend his lead, although it washis brother Oran who wasamong the winners lastweek.

He rode Shantou Show to winthe hunter chaseatTipperary for Noel Kelly and teamedupwith the Derry trainer again to winthe four-yearold maiden at Toomebridge on JorahD’Alma, a Spanish Moon gelding who made agood impression.

Open racesa good medium for noviceriders

Thereisnoshortage of fresh talent on the ridingsceneatthe moment. Alex Harvey,Joey Dunne and DarraghHiggins,who aregrouped togetheronthe sixwinner mark,are namestonotefor the future, and plenty of othershave

given the impression theyjustneed the rightopportunities to begin to establishthemselves

ButIthink there’salwaysmore that could be to be done for young riders. I’mthinkingofinitiatives such as theINHSCAutumnNoviceRiders Series,whichwas wonbyDara McGill.

It wasrun on apoints system and Dara’s wins on Warren Ewing’sBrain

Powerinopenracesconfinedto novice riders wasthe keytohis successina competition in which David O’Brien and DanNevin shared the runner-up spot

Open races areagood medium for novice riders.The horses areusually old hands,manyofthem veterans with many yearsoftrack experience and canjumpwithassurance

Whenitcomesto the youngerhorsemaidens the stakes arevery high,soit’sobvious the vast majority of handlers do their best to getthe mostexperiencedriders available to showoff prospectivesales candidates.

No sign of afutureRachael Blackmorecomingthrough

I hope the authorities can come up with additional incentives for novice riders for next season, but I would also like to see women get more opportunities to develop race-riding experience There’s been steady progress in that area butI’m not convinced we’re doing nearly enough to provide young women with the chances to followthe path taken by Rachael Blackmore.

Rachael had to do it against the odds.She isn’t the product of anysort of system She kept grafting away, and if Shark Hanlon hadn’t put his faith in her at acrucial timeinher career the racing world might never have seen oneofits brighteststars

There’s no sign at the moment the point-to-point world is hiding a young womanrider who could make the grade in the professional ranks

Even if therewas someone out there with that sort of potential it would be incredibly hard for her to be noticedand to obtain the raceriding experience needed to develop the rightskills and build the necessary confidence.

Cause for concern with only two in lady riders’ title hunt

The race for this season’s lady riders’ title is goingdowntothe wire, with two very experienced riders involved –Maxine O’Sullivan and Moira McElligott

Maxine leads by one (8-7) but I think it’s acause for concern that no other rider is closetobeinginthe hunt. Third-placedCaraMcGoldrick hashad threewinners in points and alsorodeShantou Show to wina maiden hunter chasewin at Downpatricklastmonth

Then there’sagroup of riders on the two-winner mark,mostofwhom have hadfewer than ten rides

To be realistic,ifyou’renot getting manymoreopportunities than that, you need to be exceptionallygiftedor extremely lucky to make the sort of mark needed to attractwider attention.

If point-to-pointingisgoingto continue to prosper, theseare issues that needtobeaddressed

As Isaidatthe beginning, thereare plenty of horses in the system, now let’s seeifwecan do moretofoster talentamong the nextgenerationof riders–male and female

‘Rachael had to do it againstthe odds.She isn’t theproduct of any sort of system.She kept grafting away ’

Bertie Finn initiatesadoubleaboard BobO RhinoatGrennan to close thegap on novice riders’titleleader Dara McGill

HEALYRACING

Tipperary

Thu May 4th

GOOD TO YIELDING

573 Glenview And Rathbarry Stud Novice Hunters Chase (4yo+) 2m7f175y

433 SHANTOU SHOW (IRE) 7 11-7t Mr O McGill(7) 1

b g by Shantou (USA) - Oscar Show (IRE) (Oscar(IRE)) in touch with leaders, not fluent 4th, headway after 3 out, keeping on when nudged along before 2 out went second and challenging when ridden after last, kept on well to lead final strides RPR 120

512 Lar’s Lass (IRE) 7 11-7 Mr B O’Neill .........nk 2 ch m by Ocovango - Back To Bavaria (IRE) (Bob Back(USA)) took keen hold, towards rear early, in touch with leaders before 6th, led after 7th, clear before 5 out, reduced lead 2 out, ridden and faced challenge after last, kept on well but headed final strides RPR 112

484 Brave Starlight (IRE) 6 11-9 Mr Derek O’Connor .......33/4 3

b g by Ask - Sleep By Starlight (FR) (Sleeping Car(FR)) disputed lead early, led narrowly after 1st, headed and raced in second after 7th, disputing second after 4 out, pushed along after 2 out, lost second when ridden and no extra after last RPR 110 Asian Master (IRE) 6 11-2 FAV Mr T Costello(7) prominent, disputing second after 4th, pressed leaders when mistake 8th, disputing second after 4 out, mistake and lost ground 3 out, ridden and keeping on after 2 out, no extra approaching last RPR 105 ...........5 4

485 Loughaneala Og (IRE) 8 11-2 Mr Finian Maguire disputed lead early, disputing second after 1st in touch with leaders after 4th ridden after 3 out, no extra when flashed tail after 2 out RPR 91 ...........7

498 Lisleigh Lad (IRE) 5 11-2 Mr A T Feeney(7) towards rear, some headway after 3 out, keeping on when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and no extra, no telling impression RPR 93 .......5

486 Starlight Cato (IRE) 6 11-4 Mr E P O’Brien(5) didn’t jump well, jumped right on occasions, always behind RPR 77 .........16

487 Grange Island (IRE) 7 12-0cp Mr M J O’Connor prominent, disputing second after 1st, pressed leader after 5th, lost position before 7th, dropped to midfield when slow jump and pushed along 5 out, weakened 4 out RPR 81

486 Boss Robin (IRE) 7 11-2 Mr R W Barron(7) in touch with leaders early, mistake 1st, mistake 3rd, towards rear when mistake 10th, jumped slightly right 11th, no impression after 5 out RPR 76 .........hd

511 Pure Decent (IRE) 8 11-6 Mr J C Barry(3) dwelt start, took keen hold, always behind, slightly hampered after 1st, no impression after 5 out RPR 73 .......2

SP 11/4 TIME 6m 48.80s

OWNER: Conor Mohan

United Hunt Foxhounds

Bartlemy Sun May 7th

YIELDING

574 Tattersalls NH & Coolmore Stud 4yo Mares Maiden (4yo)abt 3m

REALTA LIATH (IRE) 4 11-11 Derek O’Connor 1 gr m by Kingston Hill - Crowning Virtue (IRE) (Jimble(FR)) chsd ldrs in 4th/5th, 6th aftr 4out, prog in 3rd bef 2out, ld aftr 2out, 4l adv gng best bef last, kow, easily RPR 83 Lustfull Lady (IRE) 4 11-6 F P Murphy(5) ...........3 2 b m by Getaway (GER) - Crossbar Lady (IRE) (Flemensfirth(USA)) c up, 6th 1/way, 5th aftr 4out, prog aftr 2out & ko in 3rd bef last, went 2nd early flat, not reach wnr RPR 80

446 Giver The Hollie (IRE) 4 11-11 D Allen ...........4 3 b m by Shirocco (GER) - Centre Field (IRE) (Yeats(IRE)) ld/disp, 2nd 3out & 3rd 2out, cl 3rd 2out unti 4th bef last, went 3rd early flat, ko RPR 76 Burma Ruby (IRE) 4 11-11 J C Barry cl up, 4th from 6th, cl 4th 2out & no ex in 5th bef last, went 4th early flat RPR 75 .........hd 4

Zainarc (IRE) 4 11-11 J Hannon alw last, slow 5th, cto 5out & pu bef 4out P SP 5/1 TIME 7m 13.00s 10 ran

OWNER: Harley Dean Dunne; HANDLER: Harley Dean Dunne

576 Goffs UK Spring Sale 4yo Geldings Maiden (Div 2) (4yo)abt 3m

HARBOUR HIGHWAY (IRE) 4 11-11 M J Sweeney 1 b g by Youmzain (IRE) - Harbour Pearl (IRE) (Stowaway)

ww until 5th brfly by 4th 8th 1/2way, prog aftr 4out, 4th bef 3out, ld bef last where qckrr jump, kow flat RPR 92 516 Just One Surf (FR) 4 11-11 R James ...........5 2

b g by Very Nice Name (FR) - Matasurf (FR) (Rochesson(FR))

ld/disp, ld from 5out, jnd bef 3out where gd jmp & ld agn hdd bef last where mstk no ex flat RPR 87

La Higuera (IRE) 4 11-11 FAV B O’Neill .........hd 3

Caouette (FR) 4 11-11 F Maguire mid-div best, 8th from 5th, clsr in 6th bef 4out, wknd bef 2out RPR 50 ...........4 9

In The Bay (IRE) 4 11-11 P A King alw twrds rr, 12th by

& mstk 3out, bhnd when pu bef 2out P Chief Lady (IRE) 4 11-11 R James twrds rr of mid-div, 11th by 5th, wknd

best, 9th from 5th, drpd to 13th aftr 4out, bhnd from 3out & pu aftr

3out P Wednesday Addams 4 11-11 FAV B O’Neill ld/disp, ld brfly well aftr 4out & jnd bef 3out, no ex aftr 3out & wknd 2out, bhnd when pu bef last P SP 6/1 TIME 7m 20.00s 15 ran

OWNER: Matchmaker Syndicate; HANDLER: Robert James

575 Goffs UK Spring Sale 4yo Geldings Maiden (Div 1) (4yo)abt 3m

CHAUFFEUR DRIVEN (IRE) 4 11-11 F Maguire 1 b g by Soldier Of Fortune (IRE) - Coolmara (IRE) (Alderbrook) ld/disp, 2nd aftr 4out, disp agn 2out, 2nd bef last, ld agn early flat, ko, snugly RPR 93

I See The Sea (IRE) 4 11-11 J J Walsh .......11 2 2 br g by Affinisea (IRE) - Joleen (IRE) (Bob’s Return(IRE)) pr, mostly chsd ldrs in 3rd, 2l 3rd 6out, clsr 3rd aftr 2out, ld bef last, hdd early flat, no ex final 100 yards RPR 91

473 Captain Boudet (FR) 4 11-11 FAV B O’Neill ...........5 3 gr g by Martaline - Tosca La Diva (FR) (Simplex(FR)) ld/disp, ld aftr 4out, jnd 2out, drpd to 3rd bef last no ex at last, held in 3rd early flat RPR 86 Rushmount Boys (IRE) 4 11-6 R Sugrue(5) cl up, 5th from 5th, went 4th bef 3out, cl 4th when not fluent 2out, btn in 4th bef last, wknd RPR 80........................................................ ...........6 4 Cusack Park (IRE) 4 11-11 E Mahon twrds rr of mid-div, 8th from 6th, mstk 7th, cl 6th bef 3out, mod 5th from 2out, no impr RPR 60 .........20 5 Driveondonn (IRE) 4 11-11 D Allen twrds rr of mid-div, 8th from 5th, sl prog in cl 5th when b mstk 3out, drpd to mod 7th bef 2out, no impr RPR 59 3 4 6

535 Newcastle Succes (FR) 4 11-6 J O’Grady(5) chsd ldrs, 4th from 5th unti wknd downhill aftr 4out, cto bef 2out RPR 58 nk 7

535 Red Ned (IRE) 4 11-11 J C Barry mid-div best, 6th from 5th, wknd in fair 7th bef 3out where mstk, mod 6th & no impr

2out RPR 55 ...........3 8

249 Mellinium Park (IRE) 4 11-11 FAV R James alw twrds rr, 9th from 6th, last brfly aftr 4out pu qckly rounding bend downhill well aftr 4out P

NEWS AND VIEWS Eoghain Ward

O’Donovan faces tough battle for southern title

BA RT LE MY wi nn ers on Sundayfor DerekO’Connor and John Barryhas setupa fascinating finale as the race for the southern title lookspoised to go to the last twoweekends of the season.

ChrisO’Donovanset the paceinthe region for much of thecampaign,thanks to the excellentformofhis principal supporter, Declan Queally

However, in recent weeks the chasingpackhas closedthe gapont he 20 16 un de r-21 champion, andthe Sunday successesfor O’Connorand Barrymeansthe trio sit atop the table on 15 winners each BarryO’Neillwill wrap up the eastern and northern titles when those regions reach their conclusions this weekend, which will leaveBallingarry and Inchydoney to decide the outcome of the southern title McGills are

rising stars

The2022/23 season hasseen the McGillbrothers come of age in the northern region. Thepairhavecementedtheir position amongthe leaders of the region’snew crop of riders and,fittingly, with sibling rivalry strong,rodeout their claims within aweekofeach other.

Dara wasfirst to accomplish the feat with a double at Moira

at the end of lastmonth.That pipped elder brother Oran, who accomplisheditonNoel Kelly’s JorahD’Almainthe fo ur -y ear -old ma ide na t Toomebridge on Monday.

Dara’s position as number one for Warren Ewing has been the driving force in putting him in pole position to claimthe under-21 title,while Oran has received supportfromthe Loughanmoreoutfit of Colin Mc Ke ev er and Wi ls on Dennison.

Nowbenefitingfromthe backingoftwo of the region’s most successful stables,itis clear their stars are on the rise

Focus Point in spotlight

At a time when so much of the focus within point-to-pointing revolves around the commercial buyingand sellingaspect of the sport, with many horses fi nd in gn ew ow ners and progressing to the track straight after maiden success, Focus Pointachieveda notable feat on Sunday.

In wi nnin gt he op en at Grennan, the seven-year-old became thesecond horsethis season to enjoy a supercharged ri se th ro ug ht he ra nks to pr ogr es sf ro mw innin ga maiden to successin open company in the same season.

b g by Walk In The Park (IRE) - Omyn Supreme (IRE) (Supreme Leader)

ld/disp until 2nd aftr 7th cl 3rd from 8th & disp agn bef 3out, cl 3rd 3out, 3l 3rd bef 2out where mstk, ko flat RPR 86

495 Sharetheknowledge (IRE) 4 11-6 J G Murphy(5) mid-div until prog running free to disp aftr 6th, cl 2nd 5out, 3rd aftr 4out, 5l 4th from 2out, ko RPR 85 3 4 4 Trojan Du Berlais (IRE) 4 11-6 R Sugrue(5) mid-div, mstk 7th, cl 4th from 4out, 5th bef 3out, no ex in cl 6th bef 2out, ko onepce RPR 82 .......21 2 5

Panhandle Slim (IRE) 4 11-6 E M Nugent(5) alw twrds rr 8th from 6th, fair 6th & sl prog bef 3out, ko from bef last RPR 81 .........nk 6 Bentley Road (IRE) 4 11-11 J Hannon alw last, mstk 7th, rdn brfly aftr 5out, slow 4out & pu aftr 4out P Deise Bhoy (IRE) 4 11-6 P J Cody(5) chsd ldrs 7th from 4th, cl 5th 1/2way, mstk 5out, wknd up aftr 4out & cto when pu bef 3out P

Eau Noire 4 11-11 F Maguire ld/disp until 3rd by 6th, 4th from 7th, wknd in 7th aftr 4out, cto when slow 3out, pu aftr 3out P SP 5/1 TIME 7m 16.00s 9 ran

OWNER: Caitriona Goff; HANDLER: Michael Goff

577 McCarthy Insurance Group 5yo Geldings Maiden (Div 1) (5yo) abt 3m

537 ITSNOTEASY (IRE) 5 12-2 FAV B O’Neill 1

b g by Ocovango - Everybodys Dream (IRE) (Anshan) pr, chsd ldrs in 3rd, 2nd 6out, ld on inner bef 4ou , 2l adv 2out, went clr bef last, kow, easily RPR 89 Important Notice (IRE) 5 12-2 J J Walsh .........16 2

b g by Sholokhov (IRE) - Denwoman (IRE) (Witness Box(USA)) mid-div, prog in 2nd bef 6th, 3rd bef 4out, 2l 2nd 2out, no ch with easy wnr bef last, ko RPR 73 484 Loughrask Rainbow (IRE) 5 12-2 E Mahon .........12 3

b g by Sans Frontieres (IRE) - Belle’s Elegance (IRE) (Flemensfirth(USA)) twrds rr, 10th 1/2way, prog in 7th bef 3out, 8l 4th from 2out, left 3rd on flat bef last, no ch with 1st 2 RPR 61

468 Oh Nelson (IRE) 5 12-2 M O’Connor mid-div, 6th by 5th cl 8th bef 3out, no ex aftr 3out, mod 5th when jmpd right 2out, ko onepce RPR 53 ...........8 4

238 Aclass (IRE) 5 12-2 J Hannon cl up, 5th from 5th, cl 5th bef 3out, prog in 8l 3rd 2out, ko in fair 3rd when ur on flat bef last U

129 Atreides (IRE) 5 12-2 J P O’Rourke mid-div, 6th from 6th, slow 8th, cl 8th but btn bef 3out where mstk, wknd & bhnd when pu 2out P

537 Bear Chills (IRE) 5 12-2 F Maguire ld, 1l adv 1/2way, hdd bef 4out, wknd in 5th aftr 3out, bhnd when pu bef 2out P Hudy’s Way (IRE) 5 12-2 J C Barry alw rr, 11th by 6th, mod 11th bef 4out & sl prog bef 3out,

Ro cky ’s Ho wy a, the championpoint-to-pointer contender,did it at Aghabullogue in January with a victory recordedthree months after a breakthrough successinan older maiden at Ballycrystal.

FocusPoint matched that with his Grennan victor y, which follo wed on fr om landingaBallyvodockolder ma ide na nd ba ck-to -ba ck wi de- ma rg in su cc esse si n winners’ companyatBallycrystal and Castlelands

BrianDouganlaid to rest

Former point-to-pointhandler

Brian Dougan waslaid to rest on Mondayafternoon having died following a short illness.

Th eA rm ag hm an ha d enjoyed success in the pointing fields with Stangmore Blue, See DoubleYou,Tamacillaand Spud’s Trouble,and wasalso secretaryfor the Tynanand Armagh hunt for their fixture in Farmacaffley.

Amember of the Tynanand Armagh since the 1960s, he was alsotheirsenior hunt master and wasaswell-knowninthe huntingfraternity as in the pointing fields.

In February,hecontributed to aBBC feature filmedatthe Armagh venueand broadcast on The One Show last month

SP 7/1 TIME 7m 17.00s 12 ran

OWNER: W B Connors; HANDLER: Colin Bowe

579 Anthony and Associates Agri Consultants 5yo+ Mares Maiden (Div 1) (5yo+) abt 3m 541 JET AWAY EXPRESS (IRE) 5 11-11 E Mahon 1 bb m by Jet Away - Barntown Express (IRE) (Oscar(IRE)) chsd ldrs, 4th from 5th, 5th 5out, cl 3rd bef 3out, prog aftr 2out, went 2nd bef last, ld 75 yards out, ko RPR 75

495 Harrys Annie (IRE) 6 11-11 J C Barry ...........1 2 b m by Walk In The Park (IRE) - Our Trick (IRE) (Flemensfirth(USA)) cl up, prog in cl 3rd aftr 4out, disp be 3out, ld 2out, 3l adv aftr 2out, no ex early flat & hdd 75 yards out RPR 74

David Magnier, Albert Sherwood, David O’Sullivan, Andrew Magnier & Catherine Magnier: 025-33006. Robert McCarthy, Bobby McCarthy & Peter Kenneally: 058-56254. TomGaffney, Joe Hernon, Paddy Fleming, Cathal Murphy

Gaelic Warrior, by MAXIOS Novice Hurdle-Gr.1, Punchestown

Conflated, by YEATS Savills Chase-Gr.1, Leopardstown