SERIOUS STUFF

The first point to point to be held south of the border free of Covid restrictions was held at Carrigtwohill on Sunday last at their well-appointed Ballyvodock venue and run under the auspices of the local United Hunt.

A dry day coupled with good underfoot conditions ensured a large crowd and those in attendance were treated to some excellent racing with no less than four of the eight races decided by a winning margin of 1L or less.

Lady riders were very much to the fore on the day and for one of them - 25yr old Hannah Philips - it was a red letter day as she partnered her first career win on board the Tom Keating trained De Nordener (5/29-2) who took the first split of the concluding 6yr old and upwards maiden, with fourteen going to post in division one.

Second on his previous outing under Philips at Aghabullogue in a winners’ contest the 6yr old Ocovango progeny found this assignment somewhat easier, being sent on three out by Philips and quickly opening up a 5L gap over the chasing pack a margin the pairing maintained right to the death to eclipse Big Bill Newman (3-5) and James Walsh with Up The Lawn (4-6) and Maxine O’Sullivan keeping on for third some 3L further in arrears.

There were some great scenes in the parade ring after this as the popular connections and rider were swamped with well-wishers, successful trainer Tom Keating said “I am delighted for Hannah, she is a lovely rider, sure it is bred into her. Look he is a 6yr old who I gave 8k for as a store and if he is not sold I will go for a winners race next”.

Hannah Philips is the daughter of two former amateur riders Mick Philips and Lucy Townsley, and the pairing we a couple in 1995 when Philips was crowned Champion Senior rider on the circuit whilst Townsley was crowned Champion Lady rider having partnered six winners that year the same amount as one Derek O’Connor.

Division two of the older maiden saw Araglin rider

Darragh Allen team up with Johnstown, Co-Kilkenny trainer Micelle Gannon and her charge Rock On Harry (3-5-4) who sluiced up to the tune of 12L.

The winner who raced in a hood came alive under Allen shortly after half way and he allowed the 6yr old son of Yeats to stride on and but for an anxious moment with a loose horse between the third and second last fences his supporters were always on good terms with themselves and with spring heeled leaps over the last two obstacles he came home to score eased down by 12L from Hattons Gardens (4-7) and Brian Dunleavey.

Michelle Gannon was on hand to greet this her first winner of the current campaign stating “This lad was running a blinder behind Hollow Games at Turtulla when he tipped up at the last as a 4yr old, he had a lovely run back at Ballindenisk (finished fifth) and I fancied him coming here today, I will go for a winners race next if he is not sold in the meantime”.

Husband and wife trainer/jockey duo of Willie Murphy and Moira McElligott combined to take the winners of two contest with recent Killeagh runner up Rose Of Coolbally (2-7/2) and in taking this was recording her third victory of current campaign.

McElligott raced the daughter of Alkaadhem in a prominent position early on but when this pairing were headed three out by the sweet traveling Garm Colombe (ev-6/4-5/4) and Troy Walsh the writing looked on the wall. Racing across the bottom and onto the bend which brought them quickly onto the second last of the thirteen obstacles the Carlow raider Rose Of Coolbally was back on terms with the jolly, racing over the last two and there was little to separate the pairing but on the short run in it was Rose Of Coolbally who was in receipt of 5Lbs who found the greater resolve to score by a neck with the pair pulling 8L clear of the third Mizuma (3-5) and John Barry.

“That was not good for the heart,” said successful trainer Willie Murphy. “She is a very good mare and probably would be a better mare going right handed but Moira gets a great old tune out of her, we will tip away in points for another bit anyway”.

Moira McElligott herself is a qualified vet and this is only a hobby for her, she was also an All-Ireland boxing champion at featherweight and boxed for Ireland at

European level back in 2016 with the Asdee Co-Kerry native reaching the quarter final stage.

There was a rousing finale to the mares Open Lightweight with either the judge or the camera able to separate the first two across the line with a dead heat being the outcome.

Recent Dromahane scorer O Mio Bambino (3-9/2) under Mikey Looney adopted the same front running tactics that were successful at the North Cork venue and quickly opened up a 15 to 20L advantage over her five rivals with the odds on shot La Feline (2/5-4/6-1/2) anchored in rear under Derek O’Connor.

As the contest unfolded O Mio Bambino a daughter of Fame And Glory was showing no signs of stopping up front and turning into face up to the second last she still had 5L to spare over the jolly who by now had gone second under O’Connor, the deficit was down to less than half a length at the last with the long-time leader still holding sway, on the short run in and the jolly under a strong drive from O’Connor inched closer with every stride with the pairing flashing across the line locked together with 5L back to the Shane Baragry partnered Peggy Gordon (4-8).

A dead heat was eventually called ensuring that two lots of owners went home happy.

Trainer of La Feline Sam Curling said of his mare, “She needs soft ground, but look I am thrilled that no one lost, and to her credit the other mare was very game in front, my mare will tip away in points”.

Doneraile trainer Paddy Cronin was thrilled with his winner saying “I am 60yrs involved in point-topoints and I love them and I got some kick out of this now, she is tough out and more than likely will go to Knockanard next”.

The five year old geldings maiden was the subject of a divide and in the first split the well touted Denis Murphy trained An Tobar (4-5/4) created a very favourable impression under Luke Murphy in the Brian Acheson (Robcour fame) colours.

This 70k store purchase by Gentlewave was given office by Murphy racing away from the back of the third last and from here the imposing type drew right away like a good one scoring emphatically by 20L from Good For Scope (3-5) and Tiernan Roche, with this pairing prevailing by a head over Castleward (2-5) and Barry O’Neill.

“He is as good as I ever had,” said trainer Denis Murphy. “Mags O’Toole bought him for Brian at the sales and on the day he asked me would I train him for a point-to-point, and here we are now job done, he is a special horse who thrives on work and he will go to a proper trainer now after that”.

Colonel Harry (4-6) was unlucky when tipping up at Damma House in November when 10L clear at the last, well the Patrick O’Farrell trained son of Shirocco had no such problems here bolting up by 6L under Pa King.

In front rank for most of this journey the successful chestnut repelled all challenges from the back of the third last and rounding the home bend the two fences in front of him were his biggest dangers, but there were no such problems here and he sluiced up by 6L from Oak Creek (2-3) and Derek O’Connor, with Transmission (4-8) under Jimmy O’Rourke taking third a further 5L back.

Tullow, Co-Carlow based trainer Patrick O’Farrell has just two horses in at present and he trains this lad for his brother Harry, of the winner he said “I am based with Willie Murphy and have just the two for interest and fair play to Willie he allows me the full use of his facilities for which I am very thankful, this fellow was unlucky the last day but sure that’s racing, and he got the job done today, I would imagine he will be sold now”.

Six runners contested the confined maiden and here favourite backers got a result as the well backed Serious Operator (3-11/10) under James Murphy got up late on to score by a head in the colours of his trainer/ father Donie Murphy.

Racing between the last two obstacles in this any one of four held a chance with Carrig Wells under Danny Fitzgerald holding a very slender advantage and was flanked on either side by Serious Operator along with Ta Se Rua (3-5) and David Mulcahy. The trio took the last in virtual unison and it was not until within the shadow of the post that the Jolly got his head in front with the son of Malinas prevailing by a head from Carrig Wells with just half a length back to Ta Se Rua.

Former successful amateur rider Walshtown, man Donie Murphy was on hand to greet his winner his first of the current campaign, “That was tight,” said Murphy. “He ran ok at Kildorrery and he improved a good bit from then, he is a horse that might be better suited to the track and I think that is the route we will go next, I bought him as a foal and the breeder is here today so it is great for him too”.

NEXT WEEKEND…

There are no less than three meetings on next Sunday and locally it is the Tallow meet that goes ahead with the first due off at 12.30pm and there is no pre registering required.