THE true spirit of point-to-pointing was exemplified at Saturday’s rescheduled Kildorrery fixture, as virtually all of those present at the Duhallow Foxhounds-sanctioned meeting broke out into a spontaneous round of applause as Alan O’Sullivan, brother to the late Michael, crossed the line in front aboard his uncle Eugene O’Sullivan’s Made U Look in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
Made U Look (6/4 - evens favourite), runner-up to Ebenezer Scrooge in a 15-runner contest at Ballyvodock last month, disputed the running with Mount Rinjani until the pair were both overtaken after four out by Rebel Budz.
That horse though was far from clever three out, as the sweet-jumping winner then made his way back to the front once more.
It was all plain sailing from after the penultimate of the 14 obstacles as Made U Look, a son of Rocky’s Diamond’s sire Altruistic, was clearly in control and he returned with three and a half lengths to spare over Rebel Budz.
As all and sundry gathered around to greet Made U Look, an understandably emotional handler remarked of the bay that represents Galwegian Alfie Lawless: “He’s a lovely horse and will probably stay pointing, that’s provided that he’s not sold.”
Three in a row
Ellen Doyle has farmed the four-year-old mares’ maiden at this meeting in recent times, winning the previous two renewals with Doyen Magic in 2023, while Magic Boum was successful 12 months ago, and she sent out the Baltimore Stables Syndicate-owned newcomer Divine Diva (2/1 - 11/4) to capture this year’s running in the hands of Brian Dunleavy.
Divine Diva was held up in fourth spot, as the sweet-jumping Aloo Bonda took the seven runners and she moved through to lead after the second-last.
The daughter of Milan, a three-parts sister to Johnjoe Walsh’s former 150-rated hurdler Davids Charm, asserted from the last to beat Lennon Grove by two lengths with a 13-length break back to Aloo Bonda in third. Ms Doyle’s brother James Doyle reported of Divine Diva: “We were expecting a good run, as her homework was up there with any one of the horses that we won with over the past few months. We own her with her breeders’ [Grange Stud] and she’ll be sold now.”
Due reward
The Sean Aherne-trained Mohera Prince (3/1 - 7/2) attained his due reward, having been placed on three previous occasions, by landing the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts’ maiden under regular partner Stefan Tobin.
The previous Saturday’s Knockanard fourth Mohera Prince disputed the running virtually throughout, but he didn’t altogether aid his cause by erring two out.
Mohera Prince though is a teak-tough sort and he came back to lead at the last en route to disposing of the mare Paddyskatie by a length in the colours of breeder Maurice Barry.
“It took a bit longer than I thought for him to win and it was a quite competitive adjacent,” said handler Aherne of Mohera Prince. “I know Maurice [Barry] a long time and I’m delighted for him.”
BETWEEN Waters has been a revelation since returning to the pointing fields this term and Sean Doyle’s mare, who was previously placed twice over hurdles for Nicky Henderson, recorded her fourth success of the campaign, from five starts, in the open.
Between Waters (evens – 9/10 favourite), an imposing seven-year-old by Walk In The Park, was bounced out smartly in front by Jamie Scallan and she gave a faultless exhibiting of fencing at the head of affairs.
While never all that far ahead of her rivals at any stage of the race, the favourite was clearly possessing all the aces on the run to the last and she came home with a length to spare over Paul O’Flynn’s former 139-rated chaser West Cork Wildway.
Ciel De Neige meanwhile ran his customary game race by securing the minor honours, a further half-length adrift.
A bit fresh today
Owner/trainer Doyle reported of Between Waters: “I’d say that she was a bit fresh today. This is as good as I have seen her jump and we will tip away in points this season, but we wouldn’t run her on ground any better than it was today. Hopefully, she will then get some blacktype next season.”
THE newcomer Keep Him Company (4/1 - 6/1) created an extremely favourable impression by coming home as he pleased under owner/trainer John Costello’s son Conor Costello in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
An embryonic chasing type that was acquired by the Co Clare operator in France as a foal, Keep Him Company always travelled well close to the pace, as Begger took the 10-runners along and the response was immediate once his 23-year-old jockey asked for minimum effort after three out. The bay soon bounded into the lead and was well in control approaching the last, four lengths separating him from West Of Idaho. Ballindenisk completed a clean sweep of the placings for first-timers by returning a further two lengths adrift in third.
The elder Costello remarked of the triumphant son of Walzertakt, who is out of an own-sister to bet365 Gold Cup Chase winner, Quentin Collonges: “We always thought that he was a nice horse, but he hadn’t been away for a schooling race. He will hopefully now go to the Cheltenham Festival sale.”
Conor Costello, who holds a degree in business, meanwhile was recording his sixth points success and he also previously sampled success at this same venue, as he won the 2020 renewal of the open aboard Straidnahanna.
There was another family success in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden, as James Murphy returned to the coveted number one slot aboard his father Donie Murphy’s newcomer Mystic Malina (3/1 - 4/1). The whole complexion of this race altered on the sweet-travelling leader Worth The Hall falling three out and Mystic Malina, the only six-year-old in the race, came through to lead before the last. She then accounted for Ballingurteen by one and a half lengths in the silks of long-standing points supporter Anthony Smart from Ballincurig.
West Of Idaho (L. Kenny): This son of Idaho, whose dam is a half-sister to former Grade 1-placed hurdler Colour Squadron, made an excellent career debut by finishing second to Keep Him Company in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Compensation should be easily attained, while he’s also likely to hold a track future.