BARRY O’Neill had a day to remember on Sunday when recording four winners at the Bray Hunt point-to-point fixture at Tinahely.

O’Neill’s first winner of the day came aboard the Colin Bowe-trained Timewaitsfornoone (2/1) in the Magee Family four-year-old maiden. The son of Oscar is owned by his girlfriend Brigid Bowe who is a niece of the winning handler.

A delighted Bowe remarked afterwards: “He ran really well in Punchestown last week but the two half miles was probably a shade short for him. He was very professional today and jumped and travelled well throughout. He will more than likely go for the Cheltenham Festival Sale next.”

Need To Know (4/9 favourite) provided O’Neill with his second winner of the afternoon when landing the John Durkan Memorial open lightweight in the colours of Marie Brennan. The John Paul Brennan-trained gelding has been a model of consistency for connections, rarely finishing out of the placings.

A delighted Brennan reported afterwards: “He was entitled to win today but that is not really his ground. He is a different horse on better ground.

“Barry said he didn’t give him a great vibe today and didn’t feel like himself so we will get him checked out. We haven’t ruled out a trip to Cheltenham or Aintree yet. He is qualified for both.”

John Paul Brennan and Barry O’Neill were back in the winner’s enclosure again when Sparkling River (6/4 favourite) ran out a comprehensive victory in the John R Fitzpatrick, Agricultural Contractor five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

An elated Brennan stated afterwards: “I don’t have too many doubles. My first ever was in 2003 at Lingstown when Tom Cloke won on Grey Report and Heisamodel. This mare is decent, she was probably a little unlucky at Tallow where we probably left her a shade short of work.

“Terence O’Brien, who had the winner of that race, was very keen on his mare so it will probably turn out to be a decent race. Our mare will go for the Gain Mares Final at Ballynoe next month if she is not sold in the meantime.”

Final winner

O’Neill’s final winner of the afternoon came courtesy of Flahertys Gap (1/1 favourite) in the Fitzpatrick, Gallagher, McEvoy Solicitors winners of two. The seven-year-old is trained by Wexford handler Leonard Whitmore and carried the colours of the Fort Road Syndicate, which includes Whitmore’s mother and sisters.

The winning handler said afterwards: “He wouldn’t usually make the running, he would be happier sitting in behind but there was no pace so Barry had to send him on. He was very green out in front and looking all around him. He is not a bad sort and will go for a winner’s race next.”

Jamie Codd and Pat Coffey combined to land the John Fitzpatrick five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Late Date (5/1). The son of Oscar had only one previous run to date and showed significant improvement when running out a solid winner.

The winning handler, who is also the owner, was full of praise for his charge. “He is a lovely horse and did it really well today. We ran him in a schooling race at Thurles and he did very well. I think he will improve again on better ground.”

The concluding Kent Carty Solicitors and O’Donnell Property six-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders attracted the largest declaration of the day with twelve runners going to post.

It was the locally owned, trained and ridden Singing Banjo (5/1) who came out on top of a close finish with Elusive Classic.

Singing Banjo is trained and owned by local dairy farmer John Walsh and it was his son Barry who guided the six-year-old to victory.

Walsh commented: “I am delighted for my son Barry. That was second winner between the flags now. He had his first winner at Grennan aboard Ballydarsi who finished third in the previous race. He is a good tough sort who battles well and is better on better ground”.