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POINT-TO-Pointing returned to Offaly and the grounds beside the historic Durrow Abbey house and church, as unfavourable weather conditions ensured it was a real test of stamina.
The all-conquering Doyle brothers continued their fine run of form in the four-year-old division, as fresh from sending out two smart prospects last weekend and getting duly rewarded at the Cheltenham Festival sale, Donnchadh and Cormac were responsible for the top two in the market ahead of the four-year-old auction maiden.
It was the younger Doyle who prevailed as his Jeroboam Machin (6/4 - 1/1 favourite) saw off the challenge of his brother’s Casual Observer, providing Jack Hendrick with the first leg of his double on the card.
The winner was never far off the pace before making his move two from the finish and gained a two-length advantage which the eventual runner-up was never able to bridge no matter how hard he tried.
“I was always happy with him at home,” Doyle said of the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership-owned gelding.
“He travelled well on that ground; he stays well that horse, the softer the better. He will head to the Aintree sale now I would say.”
Hendrick then completed a fine double on the card when partnering Ma Hoey (5/4 - 6/4 favourite) to victory in the mares’ winners’ of one contest for her handler Eoin McCarthy and owner Sean Maguire.
A consistent sort who had two placed efforts and a victory to her name this season, she added further success to her season with a cosy eight-length victory as the drop back from open company was rewarded in this simpler assignment.
Positioned towards the rear for much of the race, she bided her time and made smooth progress to cut through the field en route to defeating Aghmorough Bridge.
“I’m delighted with that, she ran a cracker two weeks ago in open company when a horse jumped into her at the third last, if that hadn’t happened I would say she would have won,” the Athea handler said.
“This was a step down in class, and all being well she will go straight to the mares’ hunters chase race in Cork.”
Magic Sadler (4/1) justified the decision of his connections to turn him out for the second week in a row as he stepped forward from finishing second the previous week in Belclare to take the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Always prominent under a confident Aaron Murphy ride, he made his move heading down the back straight and quickened on the run for two out which proved to be a decisive move as none of his rivals were able to bridge the gap from that point.
A son of Clovis Du Berlais out of a Flemensfirth mare, the bay jumped professionally throughout, and showed an abundance of stamina to defeat Clashill by six lengths for trainer Ciaran Murphy and owner Patrick Brogan.
“He wants a bit of soft ground, he’s a nice horse, we thought it all along and he showed it today,” winning rider Murphy started.
“There was nothing getting to him from a long way out and I was always confident I had it won. He’s sort of a horse that could be for sale, but if not, he will win loads of races wherever he is.”
THERE were no shortage of horses holding chances on the run for home in the open, as the field had raced tightly-grouped throughout.
However, it was Custers Mistake (6/1) who picked up best in the straight and galloped stoutly to the line under Paul O’Neill for handler John O’Neill and owner Michael Walsh.
“He’s a grand horse, I didn’t really know if he would go on the ground. but I just kept him on the best part of it,” the winning rider said.
“He’s a confidence horse, we were only running him really to get experience and confidence because he lost his way on the track.
“He won well the last day and he did the same here today. He’s loads of pace he’s by Zoffany, he wasn’t bred for this.”
Howya Jimmy (3/1) swooped late for Harley Dunne and owner Hubert Cotter to claim the concluding older geldings’ maiden.
On the run for home the winner was some 10 lengths adrift of the principals in third, but he came under a powerful drive from Tiernan Power to challenge Class Award at the last and ultimately win going away by a neck in what was a fine ride.
“It’s tough going here today, there was a lot of horses finishing tired and he’s a slow horse but he stays galloping so we let them race away in front of us and pick up the pieces,” Power said. “In fairness, he finished strongly and put down his head and stayed galloping.”
JOSEPH RYAN sent out Garde La Peche (5/4 favourite) to take the mares’ maiden on debut, for his son Josh.
Leading from flag fall this was a polished performance from the daughter of Kapgarde as she dismissed the challenge of Emily’s Choice by 12 lengths.
The only horse which Ryan has in training, she was a decisive winner having made all and jumped particularly smartly throughout which greatly aided her in the energy-sapping conditions.
“We thought that she was a strong stayer and that she would do it well today,” the winning handler said.
“She was supposed to run last Sunday but she pulled out lame, she had a corn in her foot, and she was supposed to run in November and she put out a splint so there were lots of little things.
“We let her off and she grew, she’s nearly seventeen hands. My son Josh bought her in France as a foal.
“She will probably go to the sale as there were a couple of men interested in her before she ran but you have go and do your thing.”
Casual Observer (D. Doyle: Only just touched off in the opener, this four-year-old son of Pillar Coral made all only to be headed before two out. A similar performance should see him off the mark soon.
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