DAVID Christie had to be satisfied with two placings from his three runners between the flags on Sunday, but he was more than compensated the following evening at the Horse Racing Ireland Awards in the Mansion House, Dublin, where he was the recipient of the point-to-point award.

The press release covered the facts. ‘David once again proved himself a master at campaigning horses within the open division, as he won no fewer than 19 races in the category throughout the 2023/24 season. Stable star Winged Leader supplied nine of those victories, which were all recorded in a winning run that stretched from Farmacaffley in February to Taylorstown in May, a run that secured Winged Leader the champion point-to-point horse crown, becoming the third different horse that his Fermanagh-based handler has secured that title with in the past five seasons.’

In answering Gary O’Brien’s question “What’s the key to retaining that enthusiasm after all these years and point-to-points?” Christie stated: “Meeting people, everywhere I go now, I’ve friends I’ve made for the last 20-25 years and people I’d never have met if I wasn’t doing that. Plus the fact, Ireland is such a place now, if you want to win, you have to travel. There’s no point sitting in the one wee area waiting, you have to go.

Another family

“I have a great backing from my own family, big backing from my son David especially, and I have another family down here too, who have grown up with me, and that’s Barry (O’Neill), Rob (James) and Maxine (O’Sullivan). And it’s just nice that we’ve all come up together. And I like horses like Winged Leader, who are strong and honest and try hard, and that’s what he is. And I like that with people too.”

In a video shown on the night, two of Christie’s owners, John Hegarty and Ray Nicholas, spoke of the high regard in which they hold the Derrylin trainer. The former, who shares ownership of Winged Leader with his partner Jenny O’Kane, commented: “David does everything with a horse. He’s got that expertise and knowledge, and he knows how to look after those type of horses.”

Precious memories

Nicholas addressed the local connection. “Co Fermanagh wouldn’t be in a district or a county in the past associated with horse racing, so it’s good to see. David has provided me with over 50 to 60 winners, which was fantastic – precious, precious memories for me and my family and my friends. It’s lovely for him to be receiving this award, and he deserves it... well, well deserved.”

Christie junior had this to say of his father: “He’s very good, mentally, at getting inside a horse’s head. I always thought the physical things he could always do improve a horse, but mentally, he’s very good with them, older horses in particular, mentally changing their mindsets. And that’s not something you can necessarily teach.

“He works tremendously hard. He does miles to support the guys to win their championships – Barry, Rob and Maxine – and novice riders coming up... It was fantastic to see young Shane Cotter riding last year and get on well with Winged Leader and Josh Williamson, who’s still at school, got on well with him (this season).”

The presentation of the award is also covered by Eogháin Ward in page 47.

MANY congratulations to Downpatrick-born Corinthian David Maxwell, who rode out his claim last Thursday week at Taunton.

The London property investor made all the running in the two-mile, seven-furlong novices’ handicap chase on the 5/1 shot In d’Or, a six-year-old French-bred gelding by Nidor, who is trained for the owner/rider by Venetia Williams. The combination won over hurdles at Ludlow in March.

Interviewed post race by Racing TV, Maxwell commented: “It’s unbelievable. I sort of started to think I was never going to be able to do it. The lads were joking with me that it’s the most anybody’s ever spent riding out their claim – 25 years as well!

“When I came into the sport, I came to ride a few point-to-point winners – it’s just nobody’s told me to stop yet. It’s middle-aged men and obsessions with things – for some people it’s cars and for me it’s horses.”

Prompted to reveal how he mixes riding out in the mornings with his job in the City, the 46-year-old said: “You just get up early. It’s not hard to get out of bed when you have nice horses like that to ride. I was just watching him jump the last there on the replay.

“When a horse will come up for you after three miles galloping around here and come up for you at the last like that – that’s what it’s about, horses like him, a real trier.”

Glass of champagne

If the interviewer was thinking more long-term when asking what next, Maxwell replied: “Oh God, go back home, have a cup of tea and maybe a glass of champagne with my wife. She’s been long-suffering – it’s been 25 years for her too nearly.”

Queried on any plans he might have for retiring to watch racing from the stands, Maxwell answered: “Absolutely no way! My wife said to me a few years ago, when are you going to give up and when I said I don’t know, she said it would be ridiculous if you were still riding at 50 and I sort of went, oh yeah, it would be ridiculous. But 50 is approaching and I don’t know when to stop ... As long as it’s fun and as long as we’re safe and we’re still having fun, that’s the main thing.”

Maxwell may have hogged the headlines, but there were wins over jumps also in the period under review for Brian Hughes (at Doncaster on Friday and Carlisle on Sunday), for Liam McKenna at Thurles on Friday and, on Sunday at Fairyhouse, for Sam Ewing on the Gordon Elliott-trained Croke Park in the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase.

On the flat at Dundalk, Luke McAteer scored on a pair of two-year-olds trained by David Marnane, the Phoenix Of Spain filly Aviatrice winning on her fourth start at the Co Louth track on Friday with the Zoustar colt Ja’Marr rewarding favourite backers on Wednesday.

Further afield, in Australia, Martin Harley partnered the Robert Heathcote-trained four-year-old chesnut Abounding to win the $160,000 Eureka Stud Tattersalls Classic for fillies and mares at Doomben last Wednesday week.

METCOLLECT Ltd, a leader in metal and hazardous waste recycling, is once again the title sponsor of Down Royal’s Boxing Day meeting on Thursday, December 26th and of the fixture’s hunter chase.

Geoff Angus, Managing Director at Metcollect shared: “We’re excited to return to Down Royal for our fifth consecutive year as sponsors, extending the holiday celebrations into Boxing Day.

Sponsoring the final event of the year is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the Metcollect Ltd brand to a wide and engaged audience, while fully embracing the festive spirit.

Chloe Ferris, the recently-appointed Commercial Director at Down Royal added: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Metcollect back for their fifth year as the sponsor of the Boxing Day Races... We encourage everyone to secure their tickets and packages early to avoid disappointment.

“We can’t wait to see everyone at our final race meeting of 2024 and look forward to creating even more unforgettable experiences for our visitors in 2025.”