OWNER Wilson Dennison not only won his own race at the Iveagh point-to-point in Moira last Saturday, the opening Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden, but also the older horses’ maiden sponsored by his good friend and cousin, Ian Wilson of Wilsons Auctions, and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee.

Both winners were French-bred geldings with the first, Tullyhill, who was ridden by Dungannon’s Cormac Abernethy, being trained at Loughanmore by Colin McKeever.

The Martaline grey, who overcame a mistake at the last to win by a neck on his debut, is out of the unraced Le Harve mare dam Ragtime who comes from the family of Mr Gotham, Riverqueen, etc.

Dennison’s daughter, Caroline McCaldin, also engaged another northern amateur, the three-time regional champion Noel McParlan, to partner her father’s Gorthill in the older horses’ maiden.

Here, on his fourth start in a point-to-point and his first between the flags for his present handler (he was previously trained by McKeever), the six-year-old Rail Link gelding made all to win by nine lengths.

This bay is out of the Discover d’Auteuil mare Reflexion who won four times over jumps including at listed level.

She is dam of three track winners headed by the Poligote mare Cote d’Azur whose own four wins over jumps included victory in the Listed Grande Course de Haies de Cagnes Hurdle. This is also the family of Vieux Lion Rouge and Azza.

The McGill brothers from Maghera, Dara and Orán, were separated by eight and a half lengths at the finish of the Northern Excavators open for novice riders where they finished first and second respectively on Brain Power and the dual champion pointer Some Man.

Power start

The 11-year-old Kalanisi gelding Brain Power, who numbers the 2018 Grade 2 Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham and the following year’s Grade 1 Grand National Hurdle at Far Hills among his seven track successes when trained by Nicky Henderson, started his career by winning a bumper at Newcastle in February 2015 when trained by James Jenkins.

Orán partnered the bay to win an open at Tyrella in late January on his fourth point-to-point start for his owner/trainer Warren Ewing (or should we now say Sam Ewing’s father Warren?!).

Black tie

Two related items. Firstly, Saturday’s point-to-point was run by the Iveagh Hunt whose Pony Club Branch is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a black tie gala ball with dinner and dancing on Saturday, November 12th in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry where they would like to see all past members, friends and supporters.

The stipulation that attendees must be over 18 rules out the Branch’s best-known present member from the world of racing, Kian ‘Tubbs’ McNally, but his mother and father, Sheena and Ronan, could no doubt represent him while among other racing parents with children in the Branch are Jackie and Russell Ferris and Christene and Neil McKnight.

Secondly, the first day of schooling hurdles at the Moira Cross Country and Schooling Gallops takes place next Tuesday, October 18th with bookings closing the previous day at 1pm.

Looking Perfect at Down Royal

THE award-winning local brand BPerfect Cosmetics is to be principal sponsor of the ‘Best Dressed Lady Competition’ which will be the highlight of the off-track programme at Down Royal racecourse on Ladies’ Day, Saturday, November 5th, day two of the Ladbrokes Festival of Racing.

The competition will be open to all female racegoers, one of whom could win a trip to Paris, including flights and luxury accommodation, as well as £500 worth of BPerfect Cosmetics products. The judges have been announced as Brendan McDowell, make-up mogul and director of BPerfect Cosmetics, Cool FM presenter and fashion enthusiast Rebecca McKinney and Victoria Withers, managing director of ACA Models.