Doyle on the mark at Ballingarry

HORSE RACING: Ormond Foxhounds Point to Point

By Michael Duggan

The two-day Ormond Foxhounds’ point-to-point fixture held on the Cahalan family lands at Southpark, Ballingarry last Saturday and Sunday was the final act of the 2024/25 season between the flags.

Large crowds attended each day, with pristine conditions ensuring fans were treated to point-to-point racing of the highest order. A wonderful atmosphere added to the overall enjoyment of what was another hugely-successful fixture, and the organisers can be proud of their efforts in staging thirteen exciting races on safe ground after what was a prolonged dry spell.

The Cahalan clan have always been receptive hosts and their hospitality is second to none. Reflecting on what was a really enjoyable 48 hours, Morgan Cahalan said: “We are delighted with the way things went. It takes a huge effort from a lot of people to stage this fixture. We have been racing here since 1976 and the year of the foot and mouth was the only time we missed out.

“My daughter Jessica and son David are the driving forces behind the meeting now. They are really enthusiastic and do a great job. We look forward to meeting people here every year, we've made a lot of very good friends over the years. Long may it continue.”

Saturday

Punters were treated to a five-star performance in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden where Krystal Sky (3/1) recorded an impressive pillar-to-post victory under jockey Jamie Scallan.

Unlucky when running out at Tattersalls Farm six weeks earlier, this daughter of Snow Sky, who is trained in Wexford by Cormac Doyle for the Monbeg Racing Farm Partnership, bounced into an early lead. Travelling strongly throughout she put her ten rivals to the sword when keeping up a relentless gallop to beat Wishful Wings by forty lengths.

Philip O’Brien, representing the victorious trainer, revealed: “This is a very smart mare. She was unfortunate the last day as she was in front at the time and travelling well.

“She is a brilliant jumper, we said we'd let her bowl along and let her enjoy herself out in front. Jamie was good and positive on her. She'll probably go to the sale in Tattersalls next week now.”

Wexford owner-trainer Jim O’Neill was on the mark in the four-year-old auction maiden as his Sean Staples-ridden Seaniecon (100/30) went a step better than his debut second at Necarne two weeks earlier to claim the spoils.

Set alight after two out, the Capri-sired winner pulled away in the closing stages to beat Sean Doyle’s Speakasyoufind by thirteen lengths.

“He is a lovely genuine horse who does everything very easily,” said O’Neill.

“The track in Necarne probably didn't play to his strengths, but, that said, he came on a ton for that run. Sean gave him a great ride and he was impressed with him. We'll see what we do now, he might be sold.”

Curragh trainer Frank Oakes proved that age is just a number as the 84-year-old sent out 10/1 outsider Dylan Oak to land a notable success in the open lightweight.

Jockey Bertie Finn sent the son of Dylan Thomas to the head of affairs on the approach to the final fence with the pair staying on strongly to beat runner-up Benny The Duke by four-and-a-half-lengths.

Octogenarian Oakes disclosed: “I ride this horse out every day myself, I'm delighted he’s won. We go out to exercise with Martin Brassil’s string, and I was saying the other day that it might be the last time I’d be riding him. He said if he wins, you’ll have to keep going!

“I remember coming here 50 years ago and I’ve been friends with Morgan Cahalan all my life. I trained a horse for him at one stage, and I'm delighted to see him here today. He is a gentleman. This victory means a lot to me.”

Colin Bowe has enjoyed a terrific season and the Wexford handler visited the number-one spot following the success of his 5/2 favourite Belle Star Outlaw in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.

Barry O’Neill - who has been crowned champion jockey for the ninth consecutive season - did the steering aboard the daughter of Kalanisi who pulled effortlessly clear in the closing stages to deny Cork raider Queen Of The Gales by nine lengths.

“This mare had a really good run when second first time out in Ballysteen and I ran her back a bit too quickly next time in Dawstown.

“She showed today what she can do and has a great attitude. That was a smart performance, and she ran to the line very strongly. A few good lads own her, and we’ll see what they want to do. She might be sold.”

There was a very exciting conclusion to the winners’ race for novice riders where siblings Emily and Laura Costello fought out a dramatic finish.

The Clare sisters - whose dad Dermot is a former dual-champion point-to-point rider - were locked together on the approach to the final fence before Emily aboard 9/4 joint-favourite Burren View - trained by her uncle Tom Costello - edged ahead close home to deny Laura’s mount Dromleigh by half-a-length.

“It was lovely to see the two girls battle it out,” revealed the Newmarket-on-Fergus-based winning trainer.

“They both travelled down with me, so we’ll have an interesting journey home! Their mother, Claire, owns the horse and his form was there for everyone to see. He finished second to Bartlemy Boy in Liscarroll and he went on to win a hunter’s chase in Killarney.

“He loves that bit of nice going, we might keep him going over hurdles on the track during the summer if the ground stays safe.”

The five-year-old geldings’ maiden was divided with heat one going to East Cork-trained 13/2 chance St Lawrence’s Well. William Verling took the reins aboard the Denis Ahern-handled son of Idaho who surged ahead two out. Clear off the home bend, the winner was always in command as he stayed on resolutely to beat runner-up Christy’s Chief by seven-and-a-half-lengths.

Ahern trains the winner for his wife Norah at their Dungourney base in the Rebel County. He reported: “To be honest, we have always thought a bit of this fella and I'm delighted he’s won. William was excellent, I knew his father, Gerard, 25 years ago and this young lad is talented.”

Limerick trainer Enda Bolger was successful in the second division where his Josh Halford-ridden Deebert (4/1) recorded a resounding victory.

Racing in the silks of Kilmallock owner John Power, the Ocovango-sired winner pulled clear in the closing stages to account for runner-up Sundance Square by four-and-a-half-lengths.

Bolger stated: “It grand to win with this horse, he has been consistent all season. I thought Josh gave him a peach of a ride; he is obviously a young man with a bright future in the saddle.

“I’ll have to chat it over with the owner, but I think he'd be good enough to go to the track. He doesn't lack a gear; he'd be a grand horse to have a bit of fun with. We'll see what road we’ll go from here.”

Sunday

Local jockey David Doyle was the main man on Sunday as the Thurles rider bagged two winners on what was the final day of the 2024/25 season.

Doyle opened his account for the afternoon when teaming up with his unrelated namesake Pat Doyle to land the six-year-old mares’ maiden aboard 100/30 chance Kilrush Lady.

Quickly in pole position, the daughter of Kalanisi kept up a strong gallop to beat Mick Goff’s Crann Rose by a yawning thirteenth lengths.

Doyle - who was greeting his eighteenth winner of what has been a stellar season for the Holycross trainer - remarked: “This mare deserved that, she’s run a few pretty decent races without managing to get her head in front.

“She is owned by a very nice man from Kildare called John Connolly. I'm delighted for him. We might tip away with her now on track over the summer.”

David Doyle went on to complete his double when guiding 7/2 shot Oldtown To Emily to an emphatic success in the concluding seven-year-old and upwards maiden.

Owned and trained in Athenry by farrier Kevin Heffernan, the son of Shirocco made every post a winning one when dominating from the front to beat runner-up The Risky Miskie’s by three lengths.

“This lad is a good, fun horse and deserved to get his day in the sun. He is for sale now for small money and I’d say he’ll win plenty of races.

“David was good and positive on him. He rang me last Monday looking for the ride as he was going for the U-21 riders’ championship. That’s how he came to be riding him. He is a good lad and has a big future.

Doyle did capture the Under-21 title, finishing what was a terrific campaign for the Moyne rider with a fine tally of fourteen winners, five clear of his nearest rival Bertie Finn.

Five went to post in the mares’ winners of three contest where the spoils went to the Dara O’Sullivan-partnered even-money favourite Glenmalure Lady.

Produced to challenge on the approach to the final fence, the six-year-old home-bred got the better of a good tussle with eventual runner-up Kilmore Coral to score by half-a-length.

The winner is trained in Ashbourne, Co. Meath by Claire O’Connell for her husband Paul O’Sullivan. Ms O’Connell divulged: “This is a real family success. We bred the horse and the jockey so it’s great. Dara is starting his fifth-year exams in Belvedere College tomorrow morning. He’s just seventeen and that’s his second winner.

“We have five horses for points and four of them have won, so we've had a good run. This mare may well run away on the track over the summer, she enjoys nice ground.”

Cormac Doyle visited the number-one berth following the opening four-year-old geldings’ maiden where his 11/10 favourite I Walked The Line scored readily under a fine Darragh Higgins ride.

In front four out, this Walk In The Park youngster pulled further clear between the final two fences to record a clear-cut five-and-a-half-length victory over the staying-on Chagga Passion.

“This lad had some decent placed form to his name. He was second first time out in Borris House and was a shade unlucky when third last time Bartlemy as he ran off the final bend. He’ll be sold now,” disclosed the victorious trainer.

Galway trainer John Staunton - who had to settle for the silver medal with Chaga Passion in the opener - went one place better in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden as his Itsaworkinmaniam, under a forceful front-running Eoin Mahon drive, came home in front. A faller two out when clear two out on debut at Turtulla back in the autumn, the 2/1 favourite showed gutsy determination in the closing stages to fend off the effort of runner-up Jetovango by a length.

Staunton revealed: “We thought this fella had a good chance - he’s a decent horse. He toughed it out well and there’s plenty of improvement to come as that’s only his second run. He is part-owned by his jockey’s dad, Steve Mahon. He hasn’t been too well of late, and I'm thrilled for him. He’s here today and, hopefully, this will give him a bit of a boost.”

It proved a red-letter day for 24-year-old Dungarvan rider Orla Queally who recorded her first winner when guiding 5/2 favourite Pat Coyne - trained by her dad John for his wife Miriam - to victory in the open lightweight for Lady Riders.

Clear off the home turn, the now 11-year-old former five-time track winner threw a spring-heeled leap at the final fence en-route to a comfortable four-and-a-half-length victory over Heroes Of Renown.

A clearly delighted winning trainer said: “It’s very special to provide Orla with her first winner. She is very much into show jumping and this will kick-start her career as an amateur.

“He is a lovely horse to have and is an ideal schoolmaster. He travelled strongly all the way today and Orla was very good on him. It’ll be more of the same season; I'm looking forward to it already and we should have a right bit of fun with him.”