DUE to the weather, only one point-to-point went ahead in Ireland last Sunday and that was the Tipperary Foxhounds’ meeting at Lisronagh, where the opening Goffs Aintree Sale four-year-old mares’ maiden was won by Clondaw Park.

Trained in Co Wexford by Mick Goff, this daughter of Walk In The Park is the latest winner to have been bred by Showjumping Ireland trainer, safety officer, owner and competitor, Dale Adams, who reports on pony show jumping in these pages.

The bay, who could well be heading to the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale in less than two weeks’ time, is out of the winning Teofilo mare Zamani, a half-sister to Nichols Canyon (by Authorized), whose 12 wins include a Listed race on the flat and eight Grade 1 successes over hurdles.

Interestingly, the mare who finished second in Sunday’s maiden, the British-bred Give It A Crack, was a first runner as a point-to-point handler for Co Wexford show jumper Jen French who, along with her boyfriend Michael Doran, runs GH Sporthorses in Camolin.

Those who know Jen from the show jumping scene, will not be too surprised to learn that her daughter of Harzand was awarded the Equine Warehouse turnout prize for the 12-runner race, her handler’s skills in that department being acknowledged by two of the country’s top horsewomen, Clare Ryan and Rosemary Ponsonby.

Give It A Crack and Sean Staples turned out to perfection before the mud at Lisronagh Point to Point \ Healy Racing

Give It A Crack, who was ridden by former Killinick Harriers Pony Club member, Sean Staples, in the colours of the GH Stables Partnership, is the second of just three recorded foals out of Crack On Girl. That unraced Milan mare is half-sister to the brilliant Cue Card (by King’s Theatre), whose 16 wins included 10 at Grade 1 level (a bumper and nine chases).

Surprisingly, French and Doran didn’t have to dig too deep to buy the bay. “We got her for just €15,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale last year,” revealed Jen. “The only thing that possibly kept her price down was that she looked a bit small compared to most other horses in the sale, but she’s plenty big enough. We also have a five-year-old Order Of St George mare, Rose Of St George, who will run in two weeks’ time.”

Jen rides out each morning for Enniscorthy trainer Paul Nolan then, in the afternoons, looks after the stock at home, where they breed and produce sport horses, while Jen has gained a reputation as someone who will find a good home for ex-racehorses.

While most horses are for sale, French also keeps a couple of show jumpers for herself, the eight-year-old gelding Camaro VH Reukenis Z (Cicero Z – Une De Cash Greenfield, by Cash), who she plans to move up to 1.30m this season, and the five-year-old home-bred GH Hazelnut (Cristo – Beachnut, by Beach Ball), who will be retained for breeding.