AFTER a break of 109 days since the Dromahane fixture on December 20th, point-to-points returned last weekend with meetings at Cork and Tipperary racecourses.

Both venues staged eight-race cards and reports suggest all went well, though it seems there was an outbreak of a new ‘virus’.

According to those we spoke to, the famous point-to-point spirit and ‘can-do’ attitude was very evident and proved highly contagious.

Entries secretary Frankie Ward was still on a high on Monday morning after seeing so many of her great friends back on track.

“It was absolutely brilliant – everyone was in cracking form and we had great sunshine,” she reported. “All the prep work had been done, all angles were covered, and you were never worried about anything going wrong because all the right people were there running things.”

Frankie gave particular praise to the handlers. “They came in with suitcases full of passports, they had so many horses to run, but they were very professional and nearly everyone who won a race was happy to give the prize money to the hunt.”

‘Wonderful sport’

After failing to cajole any of the trainers or jockeys to say a few words of thanks over the public address system, Frankie took the microphone herself. “I just wanted to express our appreciation to Horse Racing Ireland, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, racecourse manager Andrew Hogan, and all the people who canvassed for the return of point-to-points. It is people like them to make this a wonderful sport and a wonderful world.”

Despite a busy day’s racing at Cork on Saturday, there was time to catch a glimpse of the Grand National. Rachael Blackmore is a former point-to-point-winning rider and of course John Nallen had been at Cork himself earlier in the day where he had a winner.

Frankie said: “I tried to call John after the race but couldn’t get through. He called me back and I said to him: “Do you know what? It would be easier to get through to Windsor Castle than to you!’ He roared laughing. John was one of the first to run top-class young horses in point-to-points. He is an amazing man. True to form, he sent a huge box of cakes and buns to Tipperary on Sunday for the helpers.”

Pressure off

Tom Dreaper had a winner at Tipperary on Sunday and was full of praise for all aspects of the day. “From the track itself to the Covid protocols, everything went smoothly. An awful lot of horses got to run last weekend and that will take the pressure off a lot of people. They did a super job.

“With the store sales coming up, it’s vital to keep the circus moving. Not only do the good ones have to be identified and sold, but we also need to establish which horses are not up to it and get them moved on too.

“The point-to-point bumpers were great but they wouldn’t suit our horses. We were delighted to be back and to see a lot of lads that we wouldn’t have met since last November.”

The Cork fixture was staged on the hurdles track, with none of the racecourse buildings used. The stabling was not used – horses were based in their own horseboxes – and jockeys got changed in their cars. Converted horseboxes were used for taking entries and other administrative functions.

At Tipperary, the inner part of the chase track was used for racing and the racecourse parade ring was also in operation. Tom added: “Both Cork and Tipperary are good tracks and the best horses were winning. The ground was safe and the fences were in the right position. There were a few fallers but bear in mind these cards were confined to maidens. Overall it was extremely well thought-out and you could have no complaints.”

Andrew Hogan, manager at both Cork and Tipperary, was pleased with the weekend. “We had a bit of overnight frost at Cork – the temperature fell to minus two – but I think it helped keep some moisture in the ground. All the jockeys said it rode on the easy side, good to yielding.”

Staging the fixtures on a racecourse setting was one of the criteria which helped convince the authorities that it was safe to allow point-to-points resume. Temperatures and bar codes were checked on arrival. Racecourse security staff were on hand to explain to passers-by that they could not come in.

Volunteers from the Duhallow (Cork) and Scarteen (Tipperary) hunts were on-site to help. It will be the turn of the Tipperary Foxhounds to help when racing returns to Tipperary on Saturday, April 24th, while the Ward Unions are linked with the new Fairyhouse fixture on Sunday, April 25th.

It is hoped that point-to-points can return to their usual venues in May, though this will require approval from Government and Department of Agriculture officials.