FEW handlers have targeted the opening month of the new season as aggressively as Colin Bowe.

In just the first four weekends of action, the Wexford handler has already saddled close to 50 runners, far and away above the number of runners that any of his rivals have fielded throughout the month of October.

His 48 runners are a mammoth 32 more than any other handler, with Donnchadh Doyle and Ger Quinn, the next two busiest handlers, and they have each saddled just 16 runners.

The 10 hunt committees who have staged a fixture in the month of October have been the chief benefactor of Bowe’s approach to this opening month of the season, with his Milestone Stables having made a total of 168 entries for the 10 fixtures run in October.

When that is put in the context of what has been a relatively steady start to the campaign for others who have been held up by the dry autumn, the extent of his impact on these opening weeks of the season becomes clear. His October entries account for one in every five entries that were made, coming in at an average of 17 entries per fixture, which has provided the coffers of hunt committees with a much-needed boost.

Successful tactics

The tactic of targeting the early weeks of the season has so far proven successful. The stable has sent out a mighty 11 winners, already a quarter of its best-ever season-ending total.

That is good going from just one month of racing, and those returns have been bolstered by a further 13 runners, who may have missed out on a race success but have finished placed.

It takes a significant quantity of horses to be in a position to do that. In Bowe’s case, 40 individual horses ran for his stable in the month of October. That is a staggering figure in the context of the first month of the season, but it has become the 12-time champion’s modus operandi of late. Bowe launched a similarly strong strike on the start of last season, and this tactic has particular merit, especially for a yard with the numbers that he operates in.

With several of his rivals in the younger age division yet to have their first runners of the season, and others steadily building up their numbers, Bowe’s approach ensures that the stable is positioned to maximise every potential opportunity over the full duration of the season.

THE highly-valued Gain Mares Series returns today at Lisronagh and will build towards the traditional series final at Ballynoe in the spring.

This will be the 35th edition of the series and Gain Equine Nutrition have to be given particular praise for the length of their continued support of point-to-point racing, with their sponsorship of a series promoting races for mares hailing from an era when those races were often overlooked.

That has changed significantly over the past 35 years, as was seen last season when the top-priced point-to-point horse sold at public auction was a mare. Sam Curling’s Ballycahane four-year-old mares’ maiden winner Echoing Silence was purchased by Rathmore Stud for £410,000.

Following the disappointment of last season’s final having to be cancelled due to the weather difficulties, which blighted so much of the spring term earlier in the year, this season’s edition will be even more keenly anticipated with its bonus prize of €3,000 up for grabs. To qualify a mare for the final, they must be a maiden at the start of the current point-to-point season and go on to finish first, second or third at any fixture.

Mares in the spotlight

The reigning champion handler Colin Bowe, who hosted the recent launch of the 2024/25 series, acknowledged the important role it plays:

“Having a race for trainers who have mares in training to target is extremely important,” he said. “I have a few mares in training at the moment, which we hope to bring to the likes of the Gain Mares Series races at Knockmullen House in November and Borris House in December. “The bonus of €3,000 for the final in the spring is a huge boost for any trainer, I would encourage anyone with a suitable mare to target the series.”

John Hore, Business Manager for Gain Equine Nutrition added: “We are really looking forward to another fantastic point-to-point season and following the series. It’s fantastic to watch the mares who have won previous finals progress to winning listed and graded races.

“I would like to wish all trainers and connections the very best of luck for the season ahead.”

Bruff’s big anniversary

TOMORROW will be a special day for all involved with Bruff point-to-point as they celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Bruff races, which first took place on April 14th 1934.

To mark the occasion, the committee will hold a draw after each race, with racegoers having the chance to win €90 in each draw. Anyone attending tomorrow’s point-to-point at Rathcannon, which gets underway at the earlier start time of 12 noon, can enter the draws.

All they need to do is write their name and telephone number on the back of their car ticket and place the ticket in the drum, which will be located next to the position where racecards are being sold. There will also be a racecard draw for two tickets to the Limerick Christmas racing festival and a €50 meal voucher.

IT was a busy two days within the four-year-old maiden division last weekend, with seven races in the age group taking place, and Curraghmore played host to a number of notable winning performances.

Onefornine (85+) was first up in the four-year-old mares’ maiden and, with this being quite steadily run for much of the journey, Colin Bowe’s newcomer was able to dictate it from the front. Her jumping was a particular asset in the final half-mile, as she picked up smartly to win going away in the style of an above-average mare.

The opening division of the geldings’ equivalent was strongly run thanks to the efforts of Yes Sir Jack (91x). He was the last off the bridle, but didn’t get home, falling at the last, when the game Ksar Fatal (93+) had already got his measure. The winner stayed strongly to see out the trip particularly well.

Obey The Order (94+) was very impressive in the second division, as he brushed aside the challenge of a previously-placed rival in the manner of a future graded performer.

Colin Bowe claimed both four-year-old races at Tattersalls. Mayo Shirocco (80+) had a high cruising speed and really attacked her fences, while Etna Bianco (90+) overcame obvious signs of greenness and inexperience to make a winning debut.

The stable added the opener at Tinahely with Purple Owl (89+) following a faultless round of jumping. In division two, Show In The Sky (92++) impressed visually in a strongly run race that likely fell apart somewhat.