New point-to-point season begins
WEXFORD EXERTED unprecedented dominance over the Irish point-to-point scene last season, with Colin Bowe becoming the champion trainer for the fourth time and Jamie Codd taking his second rider’s title.
But it was the overall strength in depth that was so impressive as Wexford riders filled four of the top ten places and the county produced five of the top ten handlers.
Dozens of other riders and smaller stables have all got in on the act, and Wexford horses dominated the top sales returns in both Britain and Ireland, bringing millions of euros into the local economy.
It all begins again this coming weekend with the first two meetings of the new 2016-2017 season, at Toombridge, Co. Antrim, on Saturday and at Castletown-Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath, on Sunday. It will be a long campaign with 28 meetings in the first half culminating at Courtown on December 18.
A lengthy injury to perennial champion, Derek O’Connor, eased the way somewhat for Codd and his main chaser was Barry O’Neill from Ballindaggin, with Rob James (Killanne) in sixth despite a two-month injury, and Harley Dunne (The Ballagh) in ninth.
Wexford riders had more than 220 winners in total.
Codd, who has had a very good summer on the track, is just short of a remarkable 800 career points winners while O’Neill will be aiming to crack the 400 mark this season.
On the training side, it was the same story. Derek O’Connor, eleven times champion rider and acknowledged point-to-point expert, summed it up in his end of season Racing Post column: ‘On the training front the main feature was the domination of the Wexford stables…there was massive strength in depth to the Wexford influence, especially in the shop-window four-year-old maidens’.
Colin Bowe (Kiltealy) had his best season ever with 34 winners; he was chased home by neighbour, Donnchadh Doyle from Ballindaggin.
Denis Murphy, Ballyboy, The Ballagh, finished fourth and seventh place was shared by John Paul Brennan (Camolin) and Seán Doyle, Donnchadh’s brother.
My estimate is that 42 Wexford trainers shared 153 winners last season, quite a few of them scoring for the first time.
It will be difficult to match last season but best wishes to all involved and my fervent hope is that all the riders and horses make it through safely in what can be a dangerous game.
Local fixtures in the autumn schedule are all on Sundays: October 9, Shillelagh and District Foxhounds at Fairwood, Tinahely; November 13, Wexford Hunt at Ballinaboola; November 20, Killinick Harriers at Lingstown; December 11, Carlow Farmers at Borris; December 18, The Island Hunt at Courtown.