Bellurgan venue a big hit for point-to-point

RACING LOUTH HUNT POINT TO POINT

ANOTHER big crowd descended on Bellurgan Park last Sunday for the Louth Hunt point-to-point.

Last year the picturesque venue staged the meeting for the first time, and twelve months on, the fixture was another huge success.

Previously, the point-to-point took place at Rathnestin, Tallanstown, and when the land there became unavailable, a switch was made to Bellurgan.

Six races went ahead over the one-mile circuit, five fences jumped on three occasions.

Each contest produced a decisive winner. Indeed, the closest finish was the two-length margin of victory for Princess Roxy in the opening 4-Y-O mares’ maiden.

A busy betting ring was served by thirteen bookmakers, with another layer taking bets, and providing pictures, on the action at Naas, Tramore and cross-channel.

None of the Bellurgan winners were priced bigger than 4/1, though a couple were uneasy in the market.

Harley Dunne, who partnered Princess Roxy for trainer Denis Murphy, went on to complete a double aboard Devito’sgoldengirl.

She took the older mares’ maiden with plenty to spare, despite drifting out to 4/1 at the off. Devito’sgoldengirl is trained by Shane Byrne.

The featured open lightweight race included a number of runners familiar to followers of park racing.

One of these, Heaney, making his debut between the flags, is out of The Red Wench, who subsequently produced Definitly Red.

He was one of the leading fancies for the previous afternoon’s Grand National, only to be pulled up early on after the saddle slipped.

Heaney had to settle for second place behind the impressive Ourmanmassini, under AJ Fox.

Ourmanmassini is one of the leading performers in this sphere, and earlier in the season at Glenbane, he beat Balnaslow, who the previous Thursday finished runner-up in the Foxhunters at Aintree.

In the 5-Y-O geldings’ maiden, Global Citizen, ridden by Noel McParlan, made a successful debut, getting the better of local hope, Lovely Schtuff, owned, bred and trained by Thomas McGeough.

The in-form Dermot McLoughlin stable struck with Freewheelin Dylan in the winners of one.

After a narrow success last-time-out at Maralin, he had it easier on this occasion, Mark O’Hare steering him home four lengths ahead of Novo Dawn.

The concluding maiden for older geldings and novice riders, saw Pass The Ball wing in 25 lengths clear of local runner, Skyhill Allstar, owned and bred by Liam Rice.