Finn lands the Oscar

The new point-to-point season made a very welcome return on Sunday last with the Westmeath Foxhounds staging their meet and run in glorious sunshine at Castletown Geoghegan, about four miles past Kilbeggan Racecourse.

There was a very familiar feel to the results on Sunday with both the current champion rider and trainer, Barry O'Neill and Colin Bowe combining for a double, whilst trainers Pat Doyle and Declan Queally were also amongst the winners.

Seventeen-year-old Skibbereen native, Finn Brickley will have left the midlands venue with very happy memories as he recorded a facile victory on board the Gordon Elliott trained The Bosses Oscar (5/2-4/5) who landed the ten runner novice riders Open Lightweight in emphatic style.

The 8yr old son of Gold Well was always handy under Brickley and when given the hurry up at the third last, the former 150 rated hurdler eased on and from here the result was never in doubt. From the back of the second last both Garm Colombe (4-7) and Ronald Pump (5/4-5) closed to with a length of the eventual winner, but with a fine leap at the last the Noel and Valerie Moran (Bective Stud) owned The Bosses Oscar bounded clear on the run in to eclipse Garm Colombe by 8L, with Ronald Pump (Rated 157) fading somewhat on the run in to finish third some further 6L in arrears.

Cullentra trainer Gordon Elliot was on hand to welcome back in his winner.

"I am delighted for the young lad Finn, he is a very hard worker, he comes in seven days a week and never misses a day,” said Elliot. “He was very good there now on him and he never panicked when the two lads closed a bit going to the last. I just asked Noel (Moran - the owner) what would he think we should do now with the horse and he said to tip away in points, so that is the plan going forward, but we will enjoy this win today anyway".

This was Finn Brickley’s first point’s winner but the young West Cork man was successful in a bumper at Tramore during the summer when steering the Nigel Slevin trained Granny’s Yaris to victory at the seaside track.

SUNSET ONLY RISING FOR FENNELL

Another rider who will have left the meet with fond memories is 19yr old James Fennell as he booted home the Declan Queally trained Intersky Sunset (2-3) to a comprehensive victory in the five runner winners of two contest.

The winner was one of two mares to contest this race and to their credit, they filled the first two spots across the line. The eventual winner led on the uphill climb to two out, and it was on this climb that odds on punters knew their fate as Barry O'Neill began to emit distress signals on board 4/9 shot Global Assembly in the familiar Ray Nicholls colours. Zella Bella (4-7) under Luke Burke Ott gave chase behind the Dungarvan raider, but at the death she was still 6L adrift of the impressive winner, with Global Assembly some 7L further back.

With a line of form through Sharjah (btn 67L at Galway), this was a big drop in class for the winner and she relished it. From here, Declan Queally (junior) takes up the story: "I am thrilled for James, he works so hard at the game. He is full time with us since August having spent a good part of last year at Colin Motherway’s, in fact he still goes to Colin to school a few. The mare did that well to be fair, she came here fit and ready and done it in style, she is for sale and has a mark of 84 over hurdles and 92 over fences if that is of interest to any potential buyers. If not sold she will run in a mare's winners of two next".

BRAVE FORTUNE ON TOP

Racing got underway with a twelve runner fouryear-old maiden and here Holy Cross trained Pat Doyle teamed up with his nephew, Pa King to take this with the hugely impressive Brave Fortune (2-5).

The son of Soldier Of Fortune had one previous outing when finishing a credible seventh in the Land Rover bumper at Punchestown where he encountered all sorts of problems in running.

Well.. he had no such problems here with King keeping it nice and simple on the imposing type, having him handy throughout, before drawing clear going to the second last of the fifteen obstacles and from here, he continued to put daylight between himself and the rest, going on to score by 15L from the Rob James partnered Boolamore Classic (3-5).

Sporting the colours of Douglas, Cork woman

Linda Mulcahy along with London domiciled Mary Woldridge, whom also own Flame Bearer, a winner of a grade one at Fairyhouse back in April with that lad also starting his career within the Pat Doyle nursery.

"This is a proper horse," stated Doyle after the contest. "I ran him in the bumper and nothing went right for him on the day. To be fair it took a bit out of him and he got weak so we gave him a break and he showed his true ability there today. I am not sure where we go next, I will talk to the owners and make a plan. We have been very lucky together, this is the third horse I have sold them and they have all won, so long may it continue".

MARES MAIDEN

Barry O'Neill and Colin Bowe combined to take the seven runner mares maiden with the thrice placed Emily’s Choice (5/4-5/2-2) with the daughter of Kalanisi lasting home by a neck from the somewhat unlucky Apples In Winter (2-3) the mount of John Barry, who were unlucky as she blundered away her chance at the last.

O’Neill took over at the head of affairs on board the eventual winner, racing away from the back of the second last where long-time leader Fine As Wine (3-7) raised the white flag under Troy Walsh. At this stage Emily’s Choice had kicked on by 2L or so, but this deficit was reduced to half a length by Apples In Winter on leaving the ground at the last. Here however, John Barry’s mount was not fluent and lost some momentum handing the incitive back to the Wexford raider and despite closing again, the line came in time for the jolly who prevailed by a neck in our closest finish of the day.

Colin Bowe was absent on the day as he is recovering from hip replacement surgery, so Barry O’Neill did the talking on his behalf.

"She is a grand solid mare who got one run too many last season and ran very flat at Bartlemy, she is owned by Brendan Murphy from Bunclody and if not sold will contest a winners’ race next".

TEQUILLA LANDS GELDINGS MAIDEN

The O’Neill/Bowe bandwagon were again to the fore as they combined to land the seven runner 5 and 6yr old geldings maiden with the somewhat well exposed Agent Tequilla (3-6).

Despite boasting form figures of "PP5PB", the 5yr old son of Getaway had this contest well put to bed as he raced downhill to the fifteenth and final obstacle and with a clean leap here, he duly went on to score comprehensively by 14L from the staying on Thatshalfthebattle (3-4) under Eoin O’Brien.

"He was running a big race up North the last day until he was brought down and I gave him a chance in this to be honest. He was slow to come to hand and a bit backward, but the penny has dropped and he will run in a winners race next", said successful rider Barry O’Neill.

LECALE WAY ON TOP

Racing concluded with the 6yr old and upwards maiden and here the six bookmakers present got a roasting as the debutante from the Patrick Turley yard, Lecale Way attracted plenty support at 5/2 into odds on (4/7) at the off and under a stylish Declan Lavery drive, the result was never in doubt.

In front two out the 6yr son of Getaway, Lecale Way had just the Declan Queally trained Beaus Candle (4-7) for company with a length or so separating the pairing, and try as hard as the eventual runner-up did, he was still 4L adrift at the death, but to be fair his turn looks imminent.

Co Down handler Patrick Turley was on hand to greet his winner, going on to say: "I gave €28k for him as a 3yr old, but he had niggly old problems and just took time. Little did I think it would take three years but sure look it is what it is, he may go for a winners race next and then tip onto a bumper. He is a fair beast I tell ya".

ONE TO FOLLOW... CASH CUT (JAMES WALSH)

This 5yr old progeny of Arctic Cosmos made his debut here for the Wicklow yard of James Walsh and to be fair in the preliminaries, he looked like he would improve for the run. To his credit he ran a race full of promise and looked nailed on to be second until unseating his rider at the last - to be fair his saddle was sideways going into this and gravity was always going to win the battle. But with a clear round of jumping he looks well capable of landing a similar type contest.

NEXT WEEKEND

All roads lead to Loughrea on Sunday next where the Galway Blazers race at Dartfield Horse Museum with the first off at 2pm, this is a stand-alone fixture and with good viewing and parking, it will be worth a trip.