Point-to-Point Weekly 13-03-2024

Big Interest clocks afast time in an impressive win for the Sean Doyle stable at Castlelands Reports, pages 2-3

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Following Cottage, Even Money, Fortina, Wrekin Rambler, Deep Run, Buckskin, Be MyNative, Supreme Leader, Oscar, Flemensfirth and Milan in a great NH tradition dating backtothe 1850’s Cottage Rake (by Cottage), winner of three Cheltenham Gold Cups (1948-50) for Vincent

KILLINICK AT LINGSTOWN SUNDAY

DE NORDENER cemented his re pu tation as o ne o f th e toughest horses in the open division when he won his second banks race of the season. His comfortable defeat of Transprint in the Rostoonstown Stud­sponsored feature race was his fourth victory since mid­January.

Aft er vi ct or y ov er th e Knockanard banks a month earlier, the Ocovango­sired eight­year­old has developed in to an ultr a ­ cons is ten t performer since switching to Sam Curling this season and has struck up a particularly profitable association with Down rider Toni Quail.

“He was savage in Knockanard and was very good again today,” Quail said of the Daniel Boland­owned bay. “He likes being up with the pace and I like to keep him where he is happy “He did it well. I’m so grateful

De Nordener banks a gutsy victory

Star performance

Gentleman Toboot follows some illustrious names and big things are now expected

for him and thanks to Sam for putting me up; it’s brilliant.”

Cheltenh am Fe sti va l contenders Jalon D’Oudairies and Bravemansgame are two previous winners of the ABP Slaney and Goffs Aintree Sale four­year­old geldings’ maiden and Gentleman Toboot added his name to the roll of honour Bought for €46,000 by bloodstock agent Tom Malone at the Tattersalls Ireland May store sale, the Harzand gelding was

back in the colours of his breeder Pat McCarthy for his debut and it proved to be an impressive introduction as he beat Gaelic Pride by 12 lengths

“He’s a very nice horse and I think he has a big future,” handler Jimmy Kelly said. “It’s nice for me to have a horse like him early in my training career We were confident coming here today and hopefully he can go on from this

“In the early stages of my career I used to ride Rule The World and he reminds me a lot of him.”

Gentleman Toboot’s rider Brian Lawless also added the Ire­Well Pallets five and sixyear­old geldings’ maiden

when guiding Final Demand to a debut success

Having cost €230,000 at the 2022 Derby sale, the Kenneth Parkhill­bred bay came into the race with some reputation, and Matty Flynn O’Connor’s charge did not let supporters down as he beat the more experienced River Run Free by six lengths

Get Off Your Phone was a fitting winner of the Padge Berry Memorial and Moortown Stud five­year­old mares’ maiden, with the victorious chestnut having been trained by Darragh Berry, a nephew of the point­topo in t su premo in whos e honour the race was run.

Owned by the Run For Fun Partnership, Shane O’Rourke’s

WEST WATERFORD LISMORE AT CASTLELANDS SUNDAY

DARRAGH ALLEN limbered up for his first Cheltenham Festival ride on Padraig Butler’s Da Capo Glory today in the Coral Cup with a double And after his second winner on Block Rockin Beats in the Hornibrooks Garage and Jerry O’Keeffe Sawmills unplaced maiden, he returned to a rapturous reception.

The first horse to represent Araglen­based owner­trainer Anthony McHugh and named after Dec Pierce’s radio show on Today FM, the five­year­old was lying a close third from three out as Milo Miller and Dix ie Ma fi a ba tt le d for supremacy up front.

After Dixie Mafia fell two out, Block Rockin Beats was left in second spot with eight lengths to make up on Milo Miller. However, the son of Sageburg cut the deficit nearing the last, then powered to the front to beat Milo Miller by six lengths

mount stepped forward from her Dungarvan second in late January to beat the more experienced Vroomoz Eile

There was also a Wexfordtrained winner of the opening Tattersalls NH and Tuskar Seafood four­year­old mares’ maiden when Kingston Queen continued a profitable period for Ballydarragh handler Liam Kenny.

The Kingston Hill mare had her task eased when the challenging Apaloosey and Rock

On By departed at the last, allowing her to return eight lengths clear of Ballyhiho

“We liked her a lot at home and she should have a bright future on the track. All being

well she will go to the sales now,” winning rider James Kenny said.

For the second year in a row

Tom Dreaper was responsible for the winner of the INHSC and The Merry Elf maiden for handlers who had trained ten winners or fewer

Twelve months earlier it was Lady In The Park who won for the Dublin handler, and having recently gained his first success as a licensed trainer under rules, Dreaper returned to familiar surroundings to claim the race once again with Shabby Hill Cormac Abernethy’s mount showed a great attitude to get up in the dying strides and is now likely to be sold.

Allen gets Rockin home before festival

Star performance

Mc Hu gh , who wo rk s full­time as an electrician, said: “We bought this horse at the Land Rover sale in Goffs two years ago and called him Block Rockin Beats after we met Dec Pierce at the Mitchelstown music festival a few years ago. “He ran well in Ballyvodock the last day and we knew that we had a good shout coming here today.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to my nei gh bo urs St ev ie O’Donoghue, Des Kenneally

and Sean Allen as I work this fellow with their horses quite regularly.”

Allen initiated his double on his elder brothe r Se an’s Lonesome Boatman in the Lismore Harriers and West Waterford Hunt open.

The November Lingstown maiden winner who won the open at Tallow last month, was always positioned close to the pace and the eight­year­old went on two out.

Runner­up Battle Of Benburb held every chance briefly approaching the final fence, but Lonesome Boatman’s superior turn of foot proved decisive as he swept clear to account for Jonathan Fitzgerald’s charge by three lengths in the colours of Patrick O’Leary.

NORTH GALWAY AT BELCLARE SUNDAY

WINGED LEADER has taken owners John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane on quite a journey over the last five seasons

Two years ago, the son of Winged Love was collared in the final strides at the Cheltenham Festival but he will have shown them there are more chapters to be told in his story by winning the Paul Gilligan Racing open here, a 15th points success for the ten­year­old.

Barry O’Neill ensured the race was run at a good tempo as they beat Wise Move by three lengths to give David Christie his second success of the weekend in the division.

“It’s been a while since I was do wn her e and I wa s wondering if I should run him because it’s so sharp around here, and he’s an out­and­out stayer,” Christie said. “Barry said he felt as good as ever He

“If the ground stays safe, he could now run in a hunter ch as e at Cor k on Eas te r Monday,” Sean Allen said.

Proceedings opened with the Tattersalls NH and Foxwood four­year­old mares’ maiden and 17­year­old Shane Cotter maintained his rich vein of for m by landing his fifth success of the campaign on Denis Murphy’s newcomer Future Prospect. Future Prospect made her way through to lead on the inner before the last en route to beating longtime leader Rock Sensation by four lengths

“She’s a very nice mare that was bought as a foal and she’ll now be sold,” Murphy said of the ha lf ­ sis ter to sm ar t racemare Redhotfillypeppers,

who was placed at black­type level over fences

Johnny Collins, well known these days through his Brown Island stables, returned to his pointing roots by sending out newcomer Kosac D’Oudairies to win a competitive Pegus Horse Feeds four­year­old geldings’ maiden.

The patiently ridden Frenchbred moved closer for Eoin O’Brien inside the final half mile and he was just a half length adrift of Lon Chaney when Denis Hogan’s charge unseated at the final fence, leaving Kosac D’Oudairies clear to beat Home Made Hero by 11 lengths

Sean Doyle’s Big Interest, whose dam is a half­sister to the 2012 Queen Mother Champion

Ch as e wi nner Fi nian’s Rainbow, stepped forwards from his fourth­placed debut effort at Oldtown last month by leading after four out under Jamie Scallan to see off the only other finisher, Cobblers Rock, by a distance in the Gain Equine Nutrition five­ and sixyear­old geldings’ maiden.

Former track performer Walk Out made her first outing for ha ndl er Pa ul Ki el y a winning one on her first points start by landing the Coolmore St ud fiv e ­ ye ar­ old ­ andupwards mares’ maiden under James Murphy.

However, the Conor Lannenowned Walk Out had her task si mp lifie d when the ch al len g in g Ma dame Le’Strange fell at the last

Winged Leader flies in for 15th victory

Star performance

This track may not have played to the strengths of Winged Leader, but he still accounted comfortably for a progressive rival

was a joy to watch out there.” O’Neill had a rare outing in the Monbeg Syndicate colours of fello w We xfor d ma n Donnchadh Doyle when he guided Epic West to victory in the Jim Derwin Equestrian five and six­year­old geldings’ maiden.

The clear form selection entering the race, having gone close at Lisronagh on his debut a fortnight earlier, the Mount Nelson gelding was three length s too go od fo r the

newcomer As The Fella Says “We’ve had him since he was a foal,” said Eamonn Doyle, brother of the winning handler “Barry gave him a lovely ride He brought him into it nicely and he said he has a big future. Wherever he goes, he will be a nice horse.”

The reigning champion rider als o ro de three sec onds, starting with Time Is A Thief who wa s denie d a de bu t success in a thrilling finish to the Ta tt ers all s NH and Canavans Bar and General Store four­year­old maiden.

Colin Bowe’s Doyen gelding looked to be going best as he led the pack away from the second­last fence However, he was caught late and beaten a

neck by Pure Steel and Eoin Mahon to give trainer Derek O’ Con no r an d ow ner JP McManus their fifth victory in the age division this year Mick Goff was rueing his decision to turn out Peggy’s Rock quickly at Kirkistown last month after her Ballinaboola success, but the Mount Nelson mare immediately bounced back to form when beating the boys in the William Donnellan MFH winners­of­two.

Making all under Mikey Sweeney, she opened up on the run­in to beat O’Neill on Grange Soldier by three lengths for her third win this campaign

“I made a mess of it the last day after she won in Ballinaboola, and I ran her again after

six days, which was crazy on my part, but she’s back to herself there today,” Goff said.

“She’s a good mare and I’d imagine she will go for the Gain Mares’ Final after getting a week or two off.”

Eoin McCarthy has a maiden hunter chase at Downpatrick in mind for Younowhatimean after he ran out a game winner of the Tim Kelly Group maiden. Below par when pulling up at Cragmore most recently, the Jet Away gelding bounced back to the promise of his Turtulla second in January when Alan O’Sullivan’s mount forced the consistent Walk Easy to settle for the runner­up spot for a fifth consecutive time

A hunter chase could also be

next for Howya Luveen after she landed the David Myers MFH mares’ maiden.

Ross O’Sullivan’s six­yearold ha d taken a big ste p forward when only narrowly denie d at Ty re lla in late January and, with her regular rider Lee Shanahan in the saddle again, she beat recent Oldtown final­fence casualty Deravarra – Rose O’Neill’s third runner­up of the afternoon – by three lengths

“She wants that type of gr ou nd, it ’s dr ie d ou t completely, I can’t get over it,” O’Sullivan said. “The dr y ground is the key to her, and that’s why she ran so well in Tyrella She might go for the mares’ hunter chase in Cork.”

Alabama ends Bowe’s drought

CO LI N BO WE wi ll ha ve breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Birmingham Alabama crossing the line in front in the ITBA mares’ maiden.

He r ne ck defea t of the new co mer Cher ry Br av e brought an end to a frustrating 26-run losing streak for the champion handler stretching back to the success of Haggard at Ballinaboola on February 4.

It had been a similarly barren spell for Bowe’s stable rider Barry O’Neill, who was relieved to be back among the winners

“Birmingham Alabama was very tough She had a nice run the first day but our horses weren’t really firing. She ran really well today though

“She’s owned by a good owner in Leo McArdle He may sell her, but he’s been known to keep a few for the track, so we’ll have a chat with him and see.”

Bowe and O’Neill had earlier seen signs of their horses returning to form when filling the runner-up position in the opening two races

Th eir Paul Colli ns wa s second to Buckna in the Dennison Commercials fouryear-old maiden, a race won 12 months earlier by Jeriko Du Reponet, and Chasingouttheblues was beaten six and a half lengths by Bold Fury in the Tattersalls NH five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Although the Brian Achesonow ne d Paul Col li ns ke pt Buckna honest to the line, Ger Quinn’s charge, bought by Philip McBurney for £55,000, had three and a half lengths to spare after striking the front two out under Noel McParlan in what was an impressive debut.

“He should be a top-class chaser in the making; he ticks all the right boxes. We knew he had loads of class, as he always showed plenty at home,” Quinn said.

Few could say Bold Fury was not a deserving winner of the Tattersalls NH five-year-old geldings’ maiden after the son of Califet had looked to be booked for victory seven days earlier at Tyrella, only to come a cropper at the final fence His regular rider, Thomas Kileff, did not have to wait long for the compensation that was his first winner as the pair defeated Chasingouttheblues.

“He was bought specifically for Thomas and he’s learning all the time,” winning handler Ross Crawford said.

“I’d say he’s not a bad horse now. He’s getting better with every run. Warren [Ewing] had

Pictures HEALY RACING

before going to Cheltenham with Ferns Lock, it’s like having a wi nner under my be lt already,” owner Ray Nicholas said.

him for his first few runs and he probably didn’t fit Warren’s system, but he fits into ours well and he has done nothing but improve.”

David Christie received a confidence-boosting victory ahead of Friday’s attempt to claim a first St James’s Place Fe st iv al Ch al le ng e Cu p Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham when Au Fleuron doubled up in the Old Manor Mill open for novice riders

A convincing 16-length winner at Punchestown two weeks earlier on his stable debut, the French-bred Au Fleuron and his 17-year-old Cork-based rider Shane Cotter picked up best of the trio of runners who turned into the straight holding chances

Four and a half lengths separated the seven-year-old from the rallying pacesetter John The Spark, and connections are hopeful it is the start of a big week for them

“It’s a good tonic for me

❝When I went to the Beeches to look at the stallions there Robert pulled out Bolshoi Ballet and I was very impressed with him I have to say He stood up a beautiful-looking horse,he walked very easily with great athleticism and very correct.Then when he stood up I remember saying to Robert you know this fella could win at the RDS; he looks like a complete champion.❞ FRANK MOTHERWAY

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

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

“T his fe llo w wi ll no w progress through opens and move into hunter chases, as that is my game.”

Caroline McCaldin has yet to let a northern fixture go by in 2024 without getting on the scoreboard and Ballyphilip kept that winning run going when he st ru ck for the Dr om ar a ha ndler in the Morrow Tyres winner-of-one

The Presenting gelding entered the race after an easy maiden victory at Farmacaffley on his first outing in this sphere since joining Mc Ca ldin fr om Colin McKeever, and it was another Farmacaffley maiden winner he conquered Warren Ewing’s Cabaret Prince had impressed with his own maiden success at the Armagh venue, but he was no mat ch for th e Wi ls on Dennison-owned six-year-old, who crossed the line six lengths cl ea r o f th at ri va l wi th McParlan sitting motionless to complete a double of his own on the card

New for 2024

“IthoughtBolshoiBallet wasalovelyindividual andaverygoodmover. Lookingforwardtoseeing hisfirstfoalsnextyear.”

RICHARD ROHAN

1st Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes-Gr.1,1m2f, Belmont Park

1st Sword Dancer Stakes-Gr.1,1m4f, Saratoga, by 4½ lengths

1st Derrinstown Stud DerbyTrial Stakes-Gr.3,1m2f, Leopardstown, by 6 lengths

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

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

Noel McParlan completes his double on Ballyphilip

DerekO’Connor Straight to thePoint Perfectstart with Corbetts butit’s allonthe line

in thenextfew days

THE biggest week of the season is under waynow and it wasaprivilege to be partofthe action at Cheltenhamona fabulous openingday forIrishtrainedhorses.

It’s rare that everythinggoesto plan at Cheltenham,and it wasabig thrill to getcompensation for CorbettsCross after last year’s Albert Bartlettmishapand for me after a bad decision on my partinhis preprace at Fairyhouse.

Emmet Mullins producedhim in superb shapeand it wasfittingthat he should train the winner of arace runinhonour of his wonderful grandmother,Maureen.

I’mlookingforward to teamingup again with Emmet,Its On TheLine and his new owner JP McManusin Friday’sStJames’s Place Festival Challenge Cup, ahighlight of the season for anyone involved in hunter chasinginBritain and Ireland.

It’s been13yearssince Iwon this race for IanFergusononZemsky, a 33-1 outsider in afield of 24. The field is going to be a lot smaller this time and I’mlucky to be ridingone of the main fancies,hopinghecan improve on lastyear when he finishedstrongly for me to grab second behind the British-trained outsider Premier Magic He wasonly asix-year-old then, and historywas againsthim.No horseofthat agehad wonthe race since Kingscliff in 2003. I’ve ridden him three times since lastyear’s race He gave me afall at Becher’s in the AintreeFoxhunter,but we endedthe season with victoryinthe championship race at Punchestown

This season Maxine O’Sullivan rode him twice in point-to-points beforeCharlieMullinsteamedup with him to beat FernsLockatDown RoyalatChristmas

Iwas backonboardatNaaslast time,arace his supporterswon’t forgetinahurry,asPatrick Mullins broughtBillawayfromway off the pace to getwithin ahead at the finish,after my fellowhad gotlonely outinfront and startedtoidle

Mentionofidlingbringsmeback to Zemskyin2011. Iwas trackingthe previous year’s winner,BabyRun, when he made amistakeatthe second-lastand unseated ayoung WillyTwiston-Davies.

We were left in the lead and my

onlyproblem wastokeephim going when he began to idle in the final 100 yards, buthelasted home from a bigoutsiderMid Div And Creep ridden by Gina Andrews.

OscarDelta wasthirdfor Jimmy Mangan and Damian Murphy, and backinfourthwas JP’s young horseOn TheFringe, ridden by

‘Trends don’twin racesbut I have a healthyrespect forPremier Magic afterlastyearwhen he wasa66-1chance’

the greatJohn Thomas McNamara for Enda Bolger

On TheFringewas one of the best hunter chasers duringmytime in racing, andhewon thebig Cheltenham race twice for Nina Carberry,the second time in 2016, around four months beforeJohn Thomas passed away at such a tragically young age.

in Maybeforegoingfor his break.

He’s hadasimilar preparation to lastyear,winning twopoint-topoints.Hehas beaten acouple of former Irish horses Torygraphand Salty Boy, very easily. Theformdoes not amounttomuch butI’m sure BradleyGibbs will have him spot on.

Billawayand Ferns Lock are massive dangers. Foranold horse havinghis first runofthe season, Billawaygavethe rightsignals at Naas and Ferns Lock stepped up from his Down Royalwin when beatingIts On TheLine’s stablemate RomeoMagico at Thurleswithout comingoff the bridle.Hejumped welland David Christiehas been patientwithhim.

Gordon Elliott still has Samcro in the race,but adefeatina race at Belharbour last monthindicates that his dual festival winner maylackthe competitiveedgenow he is well into the veteranstage.

Throughout the weekthereisa huge interest for point-to-point followers.Today could be abrilliant dayfor pointinggraduates,with thelikes of Ballyburn, Fact To File (and Stay Away Fay), and Jonbon holdingserious chances,along with severalofthe keyrunners in the CrossCountry and the Champion Bumper

recordinthe race,onlytwo wins in the lastseven years,ItCame To Pass for Eugene and Maxine O’Sullivan in 2020 and Billaway for Willie and PatrickMullins twoyearsago

On TheFringe’s 2016 winwas asixth consecutiveIrishtrainedsuccess in the race,inthe sequence that Zemsky started. Salsify wontwo in arow for Rogerand Colman Sweeney, and Tammys Hill (Liam Lennon-James Smyth) ledhome an Irish one-twothree in 2014.

Nowlookatthe morerecentIrish

Considering the overall Irish performance at the festival in recent yearsyou mighthaveexpected better.Perhaps so,but ourrunners have seldom been faraway. Billaway wastwice second in the race before his winwhen therewas an Irish onetwo-three,completedbyWinged Leader and Mighty Stowaway Fora while,therewas atrend for horses to winthe race twice in succession. In addition to Salsifyand On TheFringe, PachaDuPolder did it for Paul Nichollsin2017 and 2018. Trends don’t winraces butI have a healthyrespect forPremier Magic after lastyear when he wasa 66-1 chance.Itdidn’t look likea fluketo me and he boltedupatCheltenham

Ihardly knowwheretostartwith the bumper.Itlooks an exceptionally deep race.Jasmin De Vaux and Cantico,two of themostinteresting runners in ateamofnine for Willie Mullins,started in points,asdid Gordon Elliott’spair and Jalon D’Oudairies and RomeoCoolio,as well as severalleading hopes for the home team,suchasTeeshan, Quebecois,Sixmilebridge and KingstownPride

This is agood sign for the point-topointsector because whatever happens this week, theseare the horses we canexpecttosee in the top novice hurdles nextseason, and in bigraces over fences in time Friday’sAlbertBartlettisanother race whichcould providean advertisingboost to Irishpoints.

TheGold Cuphas been billedasa showdownbetween Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow, butI can see ex-pointers Shishkin, Gerri Colombe andHewickinvolved as well. Youcould sayit’sall on the line over the nextfew days.IhopeI’llbe on awinneronFriday.

CheltenhamFestival contender ItsOnThe Line andDerek O’Connorjumpthe last on theirway to winning at Naas

CAROLINE NORRIS (RACINGPOST.COM/PHOTOS)

2.00

5

1

2

6

7

3

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

4

5

1

3.30

1.30

1

BUCKNA, bred by Close Holding Ltd, won the 4YO Maiden by 3½ lengths at Kirkistown on Saturday for Ger Quinn

for Denis Murphy

❝Order of St George was a proper staying flat horse. His oldest are four-year-olds but I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far on the ground.❞ AgentTomMalone,TheOwnerBreeder,March2024

FUTURE PROSPECT, bred by Margaret Treacy, won the 4YO Mares Maiden by 4 lengths at Castlelands on Sunday

Triple Group 1 winner by GALILEO. First crop also includes first-time-out 3YO Maiden Hurdle winner and Grade 1Triumph Hurdle entry forWarren Greatrex MIGHTYBANDIT who was purchased for €420,000 at the A & G Brown Dispersal