FROM Champion Hurdles to Grand Nationals and over 1,500 races in between, Irish point-to-pointers were at the forefront of so much of the top action last season, and the signs of recent weeks suggest that will continue for the season ahead.

Unsurprisingly promising point-to-pointers no longer sneak under the radar, with big prices at the sales often fuelling hype around them. Here are five pointers from last season who didn’t pass through the sales ring after their maiden victories who could be worth following.

Jeriko Du Reponet

Nicky Henderson

The Colin McKeever – Wilson Dennison academy of point-to-pointers is one of the most renowned within the sport and Jeriko Du Reponet looks likely to be the next great exponent of it if he can build upon his impressive Kirkistown debut.

He may have given two of his rivals a lengthy head start in the back straight, but the manner in which he eroded their advantage, overhauled them and then lengthened 11 lengths clear within a couple of furlongs was mightily impressive.

Nicky Henderson has amassed a fine team of recruits from the point-to-point fields with the likes of Willmount, Southoftheborder and Jango Baie all recent novice hurdle winners for his new generation of recruits as he looks to supplement his established Grade 1-winning band of pointers like Constitution Hill, Jonbon and Shishkin. The hope is that Jeriko Du Reponet will soon join them.

Killaney King

Henry de Bromhead

Killaney King made a winning debut at Rathcannon back in November, 30 minutes before Feronily achieved a similar feat.

While the latter has already gone on to achieve Grade 1 success on the track, Killaney King has yet to re-appear, but the hope is it is a re-appearance worth waiting for.

Produced by master handler Pat Doyle, the well-bred Flemensfirth gelding struck the front three-out and such was his authority over his rivals, he swiftly had the race sewn up as he cruised to a facile 12-length success.

No Flies On Him

Edward O’Grady

Derek O’Connor is not only the all-time winning-most rider in point-to-points with 1,300-plus victories to his name, but he has also made a strong start as a handler.

Southoftheborder was his first success in that role when he won at Necarne 12 months ago, and since joining Nicky Henderson he has remained unbeaten, with his winning hurdling debut at Sandown last Sunday his second success for his new trainer.

No Flies On Him was O’Connor’s second four-year-old maiden success when he made a winning debut at Knockanard earlier this year in a race that can lay claim to Grade 1 winner Ferny Hollow and recent Grade 2 victor Captain Teague as the winners of two of the three preceding editions.

One of the few early February two-mile, four-furlong maiden points, this was strongly run for the conditions, and this Westerner gelding undoubtedly benefitted from O’Connor’s customary patience in the saddle as he pounced late.

Only four of the nine starters finished the race, however the three horses that completed behind him have already each enjoyed victory under rules which is a strong endorsement of the form.

Springt De La Mare

Gavin Cromwell

Declared for the bumper today at Navan, Springt De La Mare was one of Harley Dunne’s more pricey store purchases having cost €88,000, but it proved to be money well invested when the No Risk At All gelding made his winning debut in a 13-runner maiden at Necarne back in April. This was a race run to an honest gallop throughout in testing conditions and he was one of two horses who pulled clear from the home bend, overcoming a persistent challenge from the last to win going away at the line.

The time of the race was 14 seconds quicker than the five-year-old maiden which followed immediately after it, and the winner of it won on his next start which came on hurdling debut last Saturday to advertise the performance.

Undeniable Alibi

Gordon Elliott

The past fortnight has been a fine advertisement for the recruits that Brian Acheson’s Robcour operation have sourced from the pointing fields, with Gentlemansgame and Gerri Colombe triumphing in the first two big races in the staying chase division. The latter was bought out of Colin Bowe’s stable, and whilst Bowe also started off Undeniable Alibi in a point, he was already in Acheson’s own silks at the time.

The Saint Des Saints gelding made his winning debut at Punchestown in February in another of the two-and-a-half-mile maidens. Speed typically always comes to the fore in these shorter distance races as they can often go steady early, and he was certainly not short of gears at the business end of the race. With the field still tightly grouped coming to the home bend he really hit top gear after the last to stretch clear and that turn of foot should stand to him in a bumper at the outset.