Point - To - Point Weekly 01-02-2023

FULL STEAM AHEAD

DEREK O’CONNOR

‘I didn’t expect to find aconnection betweenRock My Way and one of the greatest jumps trainers of all time and one of the world’s top Flat jockeys’ Page 2

Workahead makes an impressive winning debut at Cragmore Reports, page 4-5

OCUS HANNON

nFa illion at win Page

airCrack won the Goffs tthe Curragh it was like nning the All-Ireland for 3

LOVE ENVOI won the Listed Mares’Hurdle at Sandown for Harry Fry by 13 lengths. She won the Mares’ Novices’Hurdle-Gr.2 at Cheltenham last year and is second favourite for the Mares’Hurdle-Gr.1

DYSART DYNAMO won a beginners chase at Leopardstown by 28 lengths forWillie Mullins. Now second favourite for the Arkle Novices’Chase-Gr.1

MAXXUM won over hurdles at Leopardstown by 16 lengths for Gordon Elliott. Now favourite for the Pertemps Network Final

WESTERN DIEGO impressed winning the bumper at Naas on Sunday forWillie Mullins, booking his ticket for the Champion Bumper-Gr.1

DerekO’Connor Straight to thePoint EwingonarollasRockMyWay hits number oneatCheltenham

HOME and away, Saturdaywas agood dayfor Warren Ewing. He saddled two winners at Tyrellaand Rock My Way, one of his winning graduates from the autumn campaign,captureda Grade2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham on onlyhis second startfor owner-trainer Syd Hosie.

As I’msureeveryone knows, Warren producedlastseason’s brilliantSupreme Novices’winner and potential superstarConstitution Hill, who finishedsecond in a maiden pointatTipperarybefore beingsoldfor £120,000 at the Goffs UK Spring Sale in May2021.

Nowitlooks as if he hasanother horsetofly theflagfor him in one of the Grade 1novice hurdles at Cheltenham. Rock My Wayisentered in theBallymoreand theAlbert Bartlett.

He rantwice in points lastseason. He waspulledupfirsttime outat Ballycahane beforeshowing plenty of promisewith athirdplace behind It’s ForMeatLoughanmoreinthe middle of April.

Anyone payingattention to this season’sbumpers will appreciate the significance of the formbecause

StuartCrawford’s ten-length winner It’s ForMeisnow headingto Cheltenham after abrilliant display at Navanonhis firststartfor Willie Mullins

Warren hadRockMyWay ready for the startofthe season and he puthis experience to good usewhen beating aColin Bowe-trainedfavourite at Castletown-Geoghegan.

He made £90,000 at the sales in November and startedfor his new stable with an excellentrun in a maiden at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. He wasa66-1 chance but threw down abig challengetothe favourite,Weveallbeencaught, another ex-Irish pointwinner,who wasGrade 2-placed behind Hermes Allen in November

When Inoticedthat Rock My Way is outofanunracedmarebyOld Vic Ihad alookfurther backinthe pedigree. Ididn’t expecttofind a connection with one of the greatest jumpstrainersofall time and one of the world’stop Flat jockeys

Sometimes you come acrossodd little gems of informationwhen doingpedigreeresearch.This was

one suchcasebecause FarRock’s dam wasMissFara, who wonthe Cesarewitch forMartin Pipein2002, ridden by 5lb claimer Ryan Moore.

As far as Iknow, it washis first majorwinner.And

nowthis maybethe firsttime Ryan hasgot amention in apoint-to-point column.

Dara McGill,who rode Rock My Waytowin at CastletownGeoghegan, broughthis total for the season to nine with aTyrella double on Warren’s pair,newcomer BectiveAbbey in the five-year-old geldings maiden and Brain Powerinthe open. Four of Dara’s wins have come on Brain Power, winner of the 2019 American Grand National Hurdle at FarHills duringhis days with Nicky Henderson. He wasn’t an immediate successinpoint-to-points duringthe 2021 autumn campaign,but turneda corner with aTyrella win12months

agoand hasgone from strength to strength

He beat Hardline at Borris House inDecemberand wasmuch too good forSamurai Crackerin Saturday’srace.Hedeservestotake his chance at Cheltenham.

BectiveAbbey,byMahler outofa Flemensfirth mare, made agood impression. Herdam,Sizing Kimberlite, ranonlyonce for Henry de Bromhead in the colours of the late Ann and Alan Potts, buthas a lovely pedigree.

From the familyofCab On Target, she’s ahalf-sister to Kilmurry,who wona point-to-pointatLismoreand wasatalentednovicechaser, firstfor Henryand then for Colin Tizzard, beforesufferingafatal injurywhen battlingitout with Finian’sOscar in the KingmakerChase at Warwick.

Sunday’sfive-year-old maidens alsofeaturedgood performances.

Ismael, aCoastal Path gelding boughtatthe Goffs Land Roversale, made abrightstarttohis career at Ballyvodock. TrainedbyDeclan Queallyand ridden by Chris O’Donovan, he made almostall to winby12lengths

Thefive-year-old maiden at Cragmorewas woningood styleby the Colin Bowe-trainednewcomer Workahead. He’s ason of Workforce, the 2010 Derbywinner, who came backfromJapan to stand at Knockhouse Stud in 2017and is makingagood reputation.

He’s responsible for one of the mostexcitingmaiden winners from the autumn campaign,Working Away,who took amares’maiden at Tattersalls Farm in Octoberfor Denis Murphyand wassoldtojoin Gordon Elliottfor £330,0000.

Themareshe beat, Bold Reflection, is another successstory for the Ewingnursery.She changed hands for £140,000 at Cheltenham in November and made aperfect start forJohnMcConnell when winninga bumper by ninelengths on the first dayofLimerick’sChristmas meeting. Breakthrough winners for Nugent and Hyde

I’malwayshappy to see young riders becomingestablished,but Igot a specialkickout of afirstwin for 20-year-old Evan Nugent in amaiden at Cragmore on Sunday, on account of the fact that Itrained his mount, NowIsThe Hour

Evan is ahardworkerand deservedthis successwhichcame on his ninth ride and after three seconds on amarecalledFindingFame.

Sundaywas alsoabig dayfor Daniel Hyde,who rode his first point-to-pointwinneronFocus Point, trainedbyhis grandfather TimmyHyde, at Ballyvodock. He has ridden twobumperwinners and is following agreat family tradition. Amongthe senior riders, Johnny Barrytookthe main honours, with a winner at Tyrellaand atreble at Ballyvodock, includingtwo winners for handler MaikeMagnussen,who is havingagood season.

Hersix-year-old Ivawood gelding BustyBoy hasnow wonthree of his lastfourraces,and her first-time-out maiden winner BridgetMaryisa promisingmareout of Leanne,who wonfourraces over fences for the late Bill Harney.

‘Dara McGill,who rode Rock My Wayto winat CastletownGeoghegan(above), broughthis totalfor theseasontonine with aTyrella double’

Rock My Way, agraduateofWarrenEwing’sacademy, takesthe lastonthe waytovictory at CheltenhamonSaturday

EDWARD WHITAKER (RACINGPOST.COM/PHOTOS)

IN FOCUS

Ger Hannon talks about gearing up for Sunday's card at Bellharbour and his roles behind the microphone and selling horses

T

Ourpoint-to-pointsecretary Paul O’Neillisextremely proactiveatcomingupwith newideastotryand we have beenmeetingevery weekfor the pastsixorseven weeks planningtheextraactivities we’ll have onthe dayto complementthe racing.

Theracingorganisesitself, really. Theextra work goesinto thoseadded activities because we arealwaystryingtoholdon toandimprovethecrowd.

We alwayssay that as asport we aredogfriendly,which wouldn’t be the case formost sports,sofamilies cancome for aday out, bringtheirdogs, and we will have nicecoffee andfoodforthem[the people, notthedogs].

They areonlysmallthings, buttheycan make abig differencefillingtenminutes between racesfor peopleto keepthementertainedand holdtheirinterest.

Thedog showisalwaysabig hitandthis year won’t be any differentbecause itis organised by DeirdreCusack, whodoes abrilliantjob withit.

We have alotofthe work doneonthetrackwellin advanceas we findthat if you leave ittothe weekbeforehand you endupunderpressure.

We have plentyofhelp, thankfullyand, with both

NEWS ANDVIEWS

MAHOEY’S pathto amaiden su ccess at Cr ag mo re on Sundaywasanythingbut ordinary.

Theseven-year-old(right) ranoutaneight-length winner oftheoldermares’maiden at the StonehallHarriersfixture onherthirdstartofthe season, havin ga ls or uninthree maiden hurdlesfortrainer Eoin McCarthy last year.

However, beforeher racing debutinaNaasmaiden hurdle last Fe bruar yt he Se an Maguire-owned daughterof Mahler hadalreadygivenbirth to aVadamoscoltfoalin2021.

“I have never hadany luck with runningfour-year-olds and Ithinksheis anicemare, so Isaid Iwouldgiveher some timetomature,”Newry-based

Bellharbour:theCountyClare venue, wheredogsare welcome,holdsameetingonSundaywithGer Hannonbehindthe microphone

Bellharbourand ourEaster Sundaytrack Quakerstown,we areverylucky to have brilliant landownersinthe Leefamily and Linanefamily. They take realprideinproducingthe tracks to averyhighstandard, whichis abig helpforus.

Iwill bebehindthe

Maguiresaidwhen explaining themoreunconventional approachto the startofher racingcareer.

“I decidedt herinfoal Vadamosand then,aftershe foaled,thatI wouldthen puther into training.

microphoneon Sundayand my firstmemoryof commentatingwaswhen my late father Patsold ahorse calledFairCrack who wonthe Goffs Million at the Curraghin 1991for RichardHannon. That waslikeClarewinning theAllIrelandforus.

Thevideo ofthe race must have beenplayedabouta thousandtimesin ourhouse.I wasseven at thetimeandafter aboutaweektheyturnedoff the volumeonthe TV andI wouldcommentateonitfrom starttofinish.

That wasthe startofit, butI

Jerryrangandtoldme to come along to Kilmallock the following Sunday.

He toldme todoone race againthat dayandthen build itupfromthere, doingtwo racesandthenthree racesas the weeks go by.Hefilledme withconfidenceandit wasa greatbreaktoget.

Jerrywas very good tome, and so toowas RichardPugh.I hadgoneupthenorthoneday with DerekO’Connorand Richardgavemethe opportunity to do aracethat season. They were both excellenttomeand Ihaven’t looked backsince.

Morerecently I’ve hadthe chancetocommentatefor RTE Radio at Limerick ontheir St Stephen’sday programmeand callhomeex-point-to-pointer FaugheenintheGrade1.

When youare in point-topointingyou areproudto see horsescomingfromitwinning Grade 1races.This seasonit wasgreat to see Jordan GainfordgethisfirstGrade1 after watching himcome throughfrom point-to-points.

Ihavea huge admirationfor all point-to-pointproducers; theyare brilliantpeople.They areself-made andtheytake the goodwiththebadand keepshowing up at everysale; theyare brilliant.

I’masuckler beeffarmer and we also keep15 to 20 horsesonthefarm. We buy themasfoalsand sellthemas three-year-olds.

never gave anythoughtto becomingacommentatoruntil Ididthe last raceonthe card atQuakerstown in2010.

Ididn’tknowJerry Hannon at thetime,but Ithinkoneof the Healysheard meand gave him acalland toldhimthat he shouldgivethisfella atry.

My father startedRalahine Studand wasthefoundation oftheplacehere. He gave mea greatopportunityand we worked together rightupuntil whenhediedlastSeptember. It’s nicetobeableto keepit goingforhim.

We have sold alotofgreat horses overthe yearsandit won’t be longuntil the sales seasoncomesaround again–but we have Bellharbour to enjoyfirst on Sunday.

GERHANNON WASTALKING TO EOGHAIN WARD

Peterand Ross Doyle for €13,500 at the2021 Goffs DecemberNational Hunt sale as Maguiredevelopshis ng operation. Ih av et en ro od ma res hereathome.

shewillbebackinfoal with Vadamos.”

Maguire

La Felineonsidelines untilearly March

“I hadoriginallybough her ou to Beeches Stud foal. Isaw herinthe fieldandliked her, so Ibought herand hadher hereuntil we weanedthefoaloffher,then she went intotrainingwith Eoin.” That foalwasbought by

in the

At the startI wa so nly havinga bitof craic withthe breeding,but mgettinginto etterpedigree with winning maresandtryingto improveallthetime.

“I hadnowinnersfor along timeandnowthat’s sevenI’ve hadinthe last18months with Eoin.

“I will keep Ma Hoey,then

Reigningchampionpoint-topointmareLaFeline wasa notable absentee fromlast weekend’s thirdmares’openof the season atBallyvodockand herhandler, SamCurling, reported that theeight-yearold ha dsuffered as ma ll setbackwhenfinishingsecond at Aghabulloguelastmonth.

TheFrench-bred hasbeen theleadingplayerinthe mares’ opendivisionintheopening monthsofthe season,dominatingraces at Lisronaghand Corbeagh Houseinthe autumn eithersideof beatinggeldings inopencompanyatBoulta.

“Shegot abadcutinAghabulloguewhich hasheldusup,” Curlingsaid. “She rode outon Monday morning forthefirst timesinceandsheshould hopefully be backforthe beginningofMarchandthe mares’ openin Ballycahane [on March5].”

Despiteher absencethe mares’ openatBallyvodock stillproducedahealthyfield of eigh t. Ul tim at ely,it was Getawayrooney,who had contestedtheCorbeaghHouse and Lisronaghraces wonbyLa Felineinthe autumn onher re tu rnfrom at wo -year absence,who stepped upto recapture thepromiseshe showed in2020to winon Sundayforthe JasonO’Reilly stable.

Hallof FamerFlood gets standingovation

William Flood wasinducted intotheITBAHallof Fame at theirannual nationalbreeding and racingawardsstagedin the Heritage HotelinLaois on Saturdayevening.

Bestknownforhisfamily’s Boardsmill Studin County Meath, Floodhas alongassociation with point-to-pointing throughhiscontributiontothe INHS Cand IHRB ,andis chairmanoftheINHSC’s point-to-pointcommittee.

Therewas astandingovation fromthe300-strongattendees ashe waspresented withhis awardbyITBAchairperson CathyGrassickand the Minister forAgriculture, Food andthe Marine,Charlie McConologue.

Racing Post Wednesday,February1,2023 3

SEASON’S LEADERS

Festival is next test for Brain Power

BRAIN POWER threw his hat into the ring for the St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after his fourth win of the season in the Cosy Roof open.

Th e 12-y ear-old Brain Power had recorded his first victory since a career highlight win in the 2019 American National when taking this race 12 months ago and he again proved a class ab ove his pointing rivals by comfortably accounting for an improved Samurai Cracker by two and a half lengths

“I was always travelling easy and I only had to ask him to extend coming into the home straight,” Dara McGill said.

“That’s four he’s won this season and he’s up there with the top open horses. We could no w lo ok at a ti lt at the Cheltenham Foxhunters.”

The victory of Brain Power was a second success on the card for Warren Ewing and McGill, as they had combined with newcomer Bective Abbey to land the Dennison JCB fiveyear-old geldings’ maiden.

The Michael Shanahan-bred son of Mahler was always to the fore alongside Fralimonti Bilbery, but as that rival faded

Star performance

Brain Power became the second horse on the four-winner mark for the season with an easy victory in the feature race

tamely on the run-in it was left to McGill’s elder brother Oran on Colin McKeever’s Ballyfinn to fill the runner-up spot However, they were no match for Bective Abbey, who won as he pleased by five lengths “We’ve always liked him but we wanted to give him a bit of time,” McGill said. “He was very tough there and he did it nicely. I’d say he’ll go straight to the sales now and will make a lovely prospect.”

Ballyfinn’s owner Wilson Dennison had better fortune in the FS Herron winners-ofth re e whe n hi s daughter Caroline McCaldin sent out Gorthill to land his second success of the season.

An easy maiden winner at Moira in October, the sevenyear-old Rail Link gelding got within six lengths of David Christie’s Ultimate Optimist at Loughanmore in the autumn.

With that form line having been advertised significantly

by the success of his Loughanmore conqueror in a Limerick hu nt er chas e, he prov ed popular in the betting and duly delivered a per f or ma nce justifying his position at the head of the market

Despite being eased by Noel McParlan on the run to the line he still proved three lengths too good for the Loughbrickland winner Grain De Folie

The same combination of McParlan, McCaldin and Dennison had high hopes of a double when Slievehill, having his first start for McCaldin’s yard, was in the shake-up for the G Curran & Co older ge ldin gs ’ ma iden un til blundering at the final fence

That error paved the way for the longtime leader U Asking Me to provide Tipperary rider

STONEHALL AT CRAGMORE SUNDAY

WINGED LEADER did not disappoint when making his return to action as David Christie’s charge ran out a battling wi nner of the St oneh all Harriers & ML O’Shaughnessy MH Memorial open

The second favourite for the St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham had not been seen since his defeat to Billaway at last year’s festival.

De spi te be in g st ro ng ly pressed by northern raider Le Malin and the three-time open winner Er Dancer, Winged Leader fought his way to a narrow victor y to remain unbeaten in points since 2019.

“It took a while to get him bac k after Che lte nh am,” Christie said. “He got a knock and two months ago it looked

Hannah Phillips with her first success of the season.

“He jumped off really well and travelled like a dream,” Phillips said. “I gave him little fills where I needed too, but he just kept going and kept finding for me I ride him out most days and it’s a great team we have It’s great to get an opportunity like this from Tom Keating; it’s a brilliant buzz.”

Sue O’Gorman has busy days ahead as she builds up to Sunday’s Wexford Foxhounds fixture at Ballinaboola for which she is the point-to-point secretary, but she enjoyed a second career success as a handler when Speranza Wilde took the Kingsfield Stud fiveyear-old mares’ maiden.

The daughter of Ask was bred by O’Gorman out of the

Winged Leader back for Cheltenham raid

Star performance

Workahead was going well when chief rival Nas Na Riogh exited two-out and he made a taking debut

like he might not make it out at all, so it’s nice to get him out.

“He’ll improve from that and we’ll think about the hunter chase in Naas now before we consider options for spring.”

Th e vict or y of Wi ng ed

Leader completed a double for champion Barry O’Neill, who was also on Workahead as he made a winning start to his career in the Tattersalls NH & He inek en fiv e-y ear - o ld geldings’ maiden.

The third offspring of 2010 Derby winner Workforce to achieve pointing success this season, Colin Bowe’s bay was upsides fellow newcomer Nas Na Riogh when that rival exited at the second-last and he

returned eight lengths clear of Donnchadh Doyle’s €50,000 purchase Icare Du Marais.

Former professional jockey turned handler Ian McCarthy saddled his second winner of the season when Redzy Rocco gained a deserved success in the Eleanor Gammell five-yearold mares’ maiden.

The Audrey Synes-ownedand-bred daughter of Shirocco ha d staye d on sto utly at Dromahane when beaten only

Definite Article mare Duplicate Daughter, who was her sole previous winner as a handler in a Stradbally maiden in 2015.

Delivered late by Jamie Scallan, Speranza Wilde hit the front on the run-in but immediately put two and a half lengths between herself and the back-to-form Indiana West Ow ne d by O’Go rm an ’s father Donal, the sales-bound five-year-old was wearing the silks sported on the Grade 2 winner Snowy Morning when he won his maiden point at Clonmel 18 years ago.

John Barry’s 800-kilometre round trip from Conna was rewarded when he guided Dermot McLoughlin’s Mousey Brown to a debut success in the Armstrong Auctions older mares’ maiden.

a neck on her debut and she justified her position at the top of the market by defeating Jalisco Star – the only one of seven rivals to complete – by five lengths

“She’s a nice filly,” McCarthy said. “She has a tremendous attitude and even before her first run, she was the one we’d always liked I won a point-topoint bumper with her brother Ballybough Native, so I know the family well.”

Derek O’Connor had to settle for the runner-up spot on Jalisco Star but he had better fortune in his role as a handler when Now Is The Hour gave Evan Nugent his first success in the Sean Kelly & Tom O’Connell older geldings’ maiden.

The 20-year-old Ennis rider

Runners take the fifth fence at Tyrella in the maiden race won by U Asking Me with the Irish Sea and the town of Newcastle across the bay forming the scenic backdrop

Bought for just €5,200 by the Califet mare’s owner Alan Smith, the six-year-old overhauled longtime leader Neat Locality on the run to the final fence to win by nine lengths

“She was doing some nice work at home and Dermot likes her so I knew she’d have a big chance today,” Barry said.

“Dermot couldn’t make it today as he broke his leg during the week, so this will be a nice change in fortune for him.”

Magnussen helps Barry to his first treble in five years

JOHNNY BARRY moved into fifth place in this season’s riders’ table on 11 winners after a treble here added to a success a day earlier at Tyrella to take his career total to 180.

It was the first treble since Tralee in May 2018 for the 33-year-old rider from Conna, County Cork, and two of his winners, Bridget Mary and Busty Boy, were supplied by in-form Maike Magnussen.

The handler will have had immense satisfaction from the debut success of Bridget Mary in the Tattersalls NH Con Healy Memorial five-year-old-andupwards mares’ maiden as the daughter of Sholokhov was bred by the late Imelda Harney from Templemore.

Bridget Mary’s dam, Leanne, won five races for Harney and her late husband Billy and Magnussen operates out of the Harneys’ yard in Templemore where Billy Harney trained Monanore and Boreen Belle

Bridget Mary came from behind to dispute the running with Right Tempo from two out and there was little to separate the pair until the Tipperary raider shaded the verdict on the line by a short head.

Bridget Mary is owned by the six-member Adelmi Syndicate, which includes Linda and Rachael Harney, daughters of Billy and Imelda Magnussen brought up her first double, increasing her seasonal tally to six, when Busty Boy showed a clean pair of heels to his rivals in the Jerry Mc Ca rt hy Ca rri gtw ohill Shopping & Business Centre

Star performance

Ismael beat proven rivals in style to mark himself out as an exciting prospect

Spratts Bar winnersof-two.

Busty Boy, posting a third success of the season, took command two out to beat Sir Rock by three lengths with a further half length back to longtime leader Ta Se Rua.

“He’s coming on the whole time. We have a few options wi th him no w and I’ m delighted he has won again,” Magnussen said of Busty Boy, whose breeder, Thomas Maher from Holycross, was on hand to join in the celebrations Barry completed his hat-trick in the Hurley’s Supervalu Midelton mares’ open on Getawayrooney for Kinsale-based handler Jason O’Reilly.

A three-time winner in 2020,

had his first ride in points nine months ago and, after being narrowly denied at Rathcannon earlier in the season when riding for O’Connor’s brother Paurick, the multiple champion rider supplied his employee with his first success as the Westerner gelding came 30 lengths clear of Hemicycle “I’m delighted to get the monkey off my back,” Nugent said. “I’m very grateful to Derek and Carol for putting their faith in me I can’t thank them enough Most of my family are here to enjoy it.”

Donal Barry’s Indian Louis backed up his Aghabullogue maiden success when proving two and a half lengths too good for five rivals in the FMN Studio Mungret winner-of-one

Much of the focus before the off revolved around the widemargin Tinahely winner Rockandrose. However, he was unable to provide Christie with a double, finishing third to Indian Louis, who got the better of a battle with Nice To Meet Nice To Meet’s rider/handler

Mikey O’Connor also had to settle for the runner-up spot in the INHS Committee, High Design & Pat O’Connell mares’

maiden when No Pains No Gains proved no match for Ma

season Winged Leader and Barry O’Neill lead in the open from Er Dancer

the Corbeagh House third was always positioned near the lead with Glenbeg Empress, and made the best of her way home from three out to beat Fromheretoeternity by one and a half lengths in the colours of owner-breeder Michael O’Neill from Reenascreena.

“She would have hated the ground in Corbeagh House, but I knew coming here she was the mare to beat if she was back to the level she was at two years ago,” O’Reilly said. “We could go for the mares’ hunter chase at Cork over Easter.”

Th e new comer Is ma el continued Declan Queally’s purple patch by destroying the opposition in the O’Connell Group five-year-old geldings’ maiden, taking him to joint top of the trainers’ table on 12 winners with Gordon Elliott.

Ismael was bounced out by Chr is O’ Do no va n in the 15-runner contest, the biggest field of the afternoon, before edging ahead from the fifth

The winning son of Coastal Path, a €38,000 acquisition at the 2021 Goffs Land Rover sale, increased the tempo from five out and held all the aces from the second-last as he strode clear of Syracus Du Houx

Although blundering at the final fence it didn’t make the slightest difference as Ismael returned 12 lengths clear of Syracus Du Houx with a similar

margin back to Park The Giant.

Queally, whose wife Bernie owns Ismael, was represented by his son Declan, who said: “He’s a beautiful horse who’s a real good jumper and his work has always been impressive.”

Ismael traces back to Grade 2 winning hurdler Moulin Riche in whom Joe Walsh, from Comeragh, outside Lemybrien, holds an interest.

Focus Point stepped forward from his second at Borris House in December by running his rivals ragged from the front to provide handler Timmy Hyde’s 19-year-old grandson Dan Hyde with a first points winner in the Norman Walsh Solicitors & Guilders Bar older maiden.

The sweet-jumping Focus Point, in the silks of Hyde’s wife Trish, was well in command when his closest pursuer Seattle Seahawk, who was 15 lengths adrift at the time, fell two out and he returned with 40 lengths to spare over The Big Breac.

There was yet another family success in the Brown Island Stables, William O’Br ien Memorial adjacent maiden for novice riders when ex-track mare Roped In, who was second four times under rules, mastered Down The Inner on the flat to oblige by half a length under handler-breeder Donie Murphy’s son James

Busty Boy gives Johnny Barry the second leg of a treble and completes a double for trainer Maike Magnussen and Jack

Pictures HEALY RACING

ROCK MY WAY won the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham for owner/trainer Syd Hosie. Bred by Rockvale Stud

❝Aproperhorse…"Hehasimprovedfromlasttime. HeisanAlbertBartletthorse.❞ JockeyTomScudamore

SANDA RENA, winner of a 4YO Mares Maiden for Sean Doyle last month, sold to Highflyer Bloodstock for £150,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale

Smart bumper winner on Friday

ttCOOPER’S CROSS won the £100,000 Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster for Stuart Coltherd and J Fyffe. Bred by Alan O’Brien

❝landedthebiggestprizeofhiscareerwitha convincingdisplay.Hecruisedintocontention❞ RacingPost,29thJan

t❝She’sgorgeous,agreatmoverand welovedherperformance. She’sgoingtogotoBenPauling fortheMegsons.❞ TessaGreatrex

DONTYAWANTME won the mares’ bumper at Huntingdon for Fergal O'Brien & Cliff Stud Ltd. Bred by M O'Brien

PROVEN GRADE 1 SIRE BY MONSUN

Contact: David Magnier, Albert Sherwood, David O’Sullivan, Andrew Magnier & Catherine Magnier: 025-33006. Robert McCarthy, Bobby McCarthy & Peter Kenneally: 058-56254. Tom Gaffney, Joe Hernon, Paddy Fleming, Cathal Murphy & Barry Kennedy: 025-31966.