THE Killinick Harriers point-to-point will live long in the memory of all in attendance for what proved to be a great day’s point-to-pointing headlined by the handlers’ race.

Of the six official races on the card, the undoubted highlight was the open run over the iconic Lingstown banks course, as the Richard O’Keeffe-trained Vital Island (4/1 - 7/2), who was always prominent under local Cleariestown-based rider Mark Scallan, just held off the fast-finishing Sizing Solution by a neck at the line.

The seven-year-old son of Trans Island was claiming his second victory over the banks, having previously won over the course back in March 2018, with the winning handler, whose colours were carried to success, revealing that his charge may now head to Cheltenham in December to tackle their cross country course.

“He loves it around here. He ran well in Punchestown last Sunday, it left him in good form coming here today. He loves the banks, it’s changed his life around,” said O’Keeffe.

The Denis Murphy-trained Beatthebullet (2/1 - 9/4 joint-favourite) had enjoyed a luckless autumn campaign to date but gained worthy compensation in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden in the hands of Luke Murphy. The Alan Harte-owned runner hit the front before jumping the final obstacle and went on to beat What About Time by two and a half lengths.

“He deserved that win, it was a competitive little race. He has more ability than his form shows,” said the winning handler who indicating that the five-year-old would now contest a winners’ race after Christmas.

The sole winner of the afternoon to come from outside of Wexford came courtesy of Eugene O’Sullivan’s Mallow-based yard, in what was a family affair, as the winning handler combined with his daughter Maxine to take the winner-of-two contest with Super Citizen (3/1 - 2/1 favourite). The five-year-old put in a gutsy performance in the colours of his owner-breeder Alurie O’Sullivan to get the better of the rallying Vinnies Nephue by half a length.

“He’s a lovely horse who has been very progressive since we started with him. It was his first run of the season today and we just thought he might need the run,” reported the winning handler, also indicating that he may now be targeted at a hunter chase at Limerick over Christmas.

THE domination of Wexford-based handers on the afternoon began early, as the opening four-year-old maiden saw Donnchadh Doyle registering his third success of the season courtesy of Ocean Drifter (7/2 - 4/1).

The Rob James-ridden son of Aizavoski made every yard of the running before seeing off the challenge of Get Rich Die Plyin by a length and a half. The Monbeg Syndicate-owned gelding was fully deserving of his success here having finished a decent second in Loughrea last month and he is now set to be offered for sale.

“He did it well from the front, jumped well, travelled well and picked up well going towards the line,” remarked Doyle.

The Monbeg team wasted no time in doubling up on the afternoon, as Doyle’s brother Sean saddled Ulterior Motives (6/1 - 5/1) to win the five-year-old mares’ maiden, carrying the colours of Listowel-based owner Patrick O’Sullivan, whose son Pat works for the winning handler. The experienced daughter of Stowaway, who was having her eighth start, was patiently ridden by local Tomhaggard rider Jamie Scallan, which saw her overhaul Jackie Daniels in the closing stages to win by a short-head.

Doyle reported that the chesnut mare would now be aimed at a winners’ contest, saying: “She’s game and tough, she’s like a mare that will win a winners’ race.” The Ballindaggin-based handler was also thrilled for the winning owner O’Sullivan and his son, stating: “Pat (O’Sullivan) works with me and he does all the work with her. I’m absolutely delighted for them.”

Four up for Ellen

The name Doyle returned to the winner’s enclosure for a third time on the card when the unrelated Ellen Doyle, from Coolgarrow, Enniscorthy, sent out her fourth winner of the season, with Acceptable Risk (3/1 - 7/2) in the older maiden.

A promising second at Lisronagh recently when returning from a lengthy absence, the Beat Hollow gelding took command from the fourth-last to record a five-length success over Call It Time, to provide Carlow native Jack Foley with the first success of his career.

Doyle, who was completing an across-the-card double having won her second four-year-old maiden of the season with a winner at Boulta earlier in the day, indicated that the six-year-old would remain pointing for the season, as she commented: “He’s a lovely horse, he just fell by the wayside, as he had a few little problems. He ran well in Lisronagh a fortnight ago and came on for that run.”

Horse to Follow

Jackie Daniels (R. Tector): This daughter of Getaway made almost every yard of the running in the five-year-old mares’ maiden before just coming up short on the long run-in. She would look very hard to beat in a similar contest.

Moore takes the spoils

IT is fair to say that Sunday’s fixture may have produced one of the highlights of the season, as the meeting played host to a charity handlers’ race, which was the brainchild of well-known Wexford point-to-point figure Johnny Berry.

Bragging rights among the 19 riders in the competitive contest belonged to JD Moore, who got the better of Andy Pierce, when riding a horse trained by Shark Hanlon. “I only found out I’d be riding the horse last night. I had no ride and Shark told me he had a horse I could ride. Its brilliant,” said Moore following the success.

The race was run in association with local mental health campaign ASK, to raise funds for Pieta House.

Founder of ASK and local Cllr Frank Staples expressed thanks to all who had helped make the handler’s charity race such a success, saying: “It’s a brilliant idea. A big thank you must go to Johnny Berry and the Killinick Harriers for organising the race. It brought a big crowd here today. Mental Health is very important, and we were delighted to be involved.”