O’Neill extends lead with double
IT WAS a quiet weekend for Wexford connections on the point-to-point scene, though Barry O’Neill did record a double at the Tipperary Foxhounds meeting at Lisronagh to extend his lead at the top of the jockeys’ championship to five as Jamie Codd drew a rare blank.
Michael Goff scored his second training success of the season. Goff, from Clondaw, Ferns, won the prestigious four-year-old maiden at Lisronagh with debutant, Phoebus Lescribaa (Policy Maker-Mia Lescribaa), ridden by stable jockey, Shane Fitzgerald, for regular Clondaw patron, Dick Frisby.
This one won by a length and will now be off to the sales.
Second here was Knockoura, ridden by Richie Deegan from Borris for Róisín Hickey, Tipperary, with Rob James third on Bite the Biscuit for Cormac Doyle and the Monbeg Syndicate.
O’Neill’s winners came in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden on board Snugsborough Benny for Liam Cusack from Mountrath, Co. Laois, and in the mares’ open race on Maple Mons for regular patron, David Christie from Fermanagh.
Maple Mons was recently a winner of the Hunter Chase at the Wexford races but O’Neill missed out on that one because of weight considerations. They are old friends though, with the Wexford man being in the saddle for five of his ten point-to-point wins.
Second here was Ballydarsi for John Patrick Walsh of Ballyday, Gorey, ridden by his son, Barry.
Jamie Codd had a couple of placed rides before heading off to Fairyhouse to ride for Gordon Elliott in the bumper; he did not have any luck in Fairyhouse either.
Unusually, there was practically no Wexford representation at the United Hunt meeting at Ballindenisk in Cork.
Barry O’Neill is now on 19 winners; Jamie Codd is on 14 and Noel McParlan is third on 11. Perennial champion, Derek O’Connor, is still anchored on just five winners as he remains out with an injury.
Colin Bowe is leading trainer on seven winners at this early stage, with Denis Murphy, Ballyboy, The Ballagh, sharing third on four.
Racing next weekend is the Carlow Farmers’ meeting at Borris House, and the United Hunt meeting at Boulta.
The Killinick Harriers race at Lingstown in the last meeting before Christmas on December 18, and the Shillelagh and District Hunt race at Fairwood in Tinahely on January 8.