Hat-trick triumph
Trainer Joe O’Shea scores with three victories, and one pair are aiming high following an easy win
North Herefordshire, Eaton Hall, Welsh Borders
TOP training honours went to Cheshire-based Joe O’Shea as the first Welsh Borders area point-to-point meeting took place on the new course at Eaton Hall, situated next to the River Lugg near Leominster.
The handler recorded a treble at the fixture with his Road To Rome becoming the first dual winner of the new season, when he and Tommie O’Brien saw off Pearlesque (Natalie Bower) to supplement their maiden victory at Buckfastleigh last week in the restricted contest.
“He was placed six times under Rules,” said the winning owner, Graham Briscoe. “We’re going to have to go against better horses now.”
Three different jockeys shared the riding honours aboard Joe’s winners, which started when Immy Robinson partnered Irish Anthem to victory in the opening hunt members’ contest. They recorded a comfortable success in the end with second-placed Hillview Lad (Callum BickersPrice) subsequently disqualified.
The third winner of the day for the O’Shea team came through Mr Snuffles and jockey Henry Crow. The six-year-old had been placed in a maiden at the end of last
season and provided absent owner Don Constable with a winner on his birthday.
GRAND NATIONAL IS ‘MAIN AIM’
THE undoubted star on the equine front was Phil Rowley’s Bear’s Affair (Alex Edwards), who provided last season’s champion trainer and jockey with a victory from their first runner of the season when taking the mixed open. The 12-year-old went on three out to record an easy success.
A return visit to the Grand National fences is on the cards for Bear’s Affair, with the trainer confirming it as his “main aim” this season — they will be looking to go one better with the gelding after his second in the race last season.
Cavs Girl (Zac Baker), placed in Irish point-to-points, saw off her sole rival in the mares’ open maiden. Her trainer Maxwell Young said: “We’ll try and win the mares’ title with her and she’s qualified for that now.”
Byron Moorcroft rode and trained Mr Burgees to win the confined, while the final open maiden went to the Ryan Pottertrained Light Flicker under Bradley Gibbs.