ON Monday April 10th, Paul Townend not only won the Irish Grand National but also all the plaudits which followed as he saw off Brian Hayes in a terrific battle to the line.

However, the race has since been used by point-to-point riders to highlight the injustice with regard to how the whip rules are currently being implemented here.

The stewards’ report for the Fairyhouse contest does not allude to any inquiry having taken place into the use of the whip during this year’s Irish National.

Perhaps discretion was used on this occasion, but it was clear to see that Townend, not only used his whip above shoulder height between the final fence and the line, but he managed to get his hand well above his head in order to carry out and deliver this unquestionably great ride.

Hayes for his part also used his whip above shoulder height and furthermore it was argued fell foul of the ‘time to respond’ aspect of the riding regulations.

Neither were sanctioned and many may say that this is the discretion the stewards have open to them being applied here.

It is interesting however that during one of Ireland’s most iconic races that there is not a strict application of the rules, particularly when you consider that less than a week later, and literally across the road at Tattersalls, the stewards at the Louth Foxhounds point-to-point took an extremely different view of the rules.

Whip suspensions

Five riders left this point-to-point with a whip suspension, with all five riders falling foul of the above shoulder height aspect of the whip rules, while two of them were also reprimanded for not allowing their horses time to respond and striking within three strides.

It created a scene of frustration between stewards and the riders, where riders pointed to, among other examples, the aforementioned rides of Townend and Hayes in the Irish Grand National which had taken place across the road just six day earlier with considerably more camera support available to the stewards, yet no action had been taken.

Two wrongs do not make a right and if the stewards at the Louth point-to-point carried out their job correctly then the track stewards may be the ones who require review, but the growing frustration that point-to-point riders are feeling towards the enforcement of the whip rules at point-to-points this season was very evident.

Particularly as those who are riding in points and being reprimanded so often, are not being banned when riding in bumpers or hunter chases, either suggesting that they change their style when going to the track, or that a different tolerance level is being applied.

It would seem sensible if point-to-points, by way of an introduction and education to the sport, could apply the larger discretion and not the more heavy-handed approach which currently seems to be the case.

After all, with only one or two days racing each week for a shorter season suspensions have a more meaningful impact on a rider in this sphere.

AN open lightweight that featured the season’s two winning-most horses may not seem most likely of races to produce a 20/1 upset, but that is exactly what proved to be the case at Dromahane last Sunday.

Between them Rocky’s Howya and La Feline have won 13 races this season, but they could only finish second and third respectively as the veteran Fr Humphrey triumphed.

The victory was notable, not just for owner, trainer, and rider Niamh Hennessy who was recording her first success in this sphere, but as a 15-year-old, he now joins the likes of Powerstation, Risk It Paddy and Whyso Mayo, as open winners at the age of 15.

“I was put in touch with Mary Hallahan, the Hallahan’s had him at home, he was retired but he was looking for a job because he hated retirement - it didn’t suit him at all,” Hennessy said explaining how the Carlo Bank gelding came into her care.

“He was delighted to be back in work. He rides like a four-year-old, he makes a show of the two-year-old as he strides out to his chin and absolutely floats along the gallop.

“He has done some hunting, a bit of everything really, and has got a good few kids going, with their first spin on a racehorse around the gallop.

“He is a very happy horse now. The Hallahans didn’t like seeing him unhappy at home so they were delighted to give him a job. Now every Sunday when I go down to plat him, he cannot wait to go racing. He trots out to the horsebox and loads himself. He can’t wait to get going.

“I am just going to keep running him now once he is fit, healthy, happy and sound.”

EMMET Mullins has already proven that he is far from a conformist when it comes to following the traditional norms with regards to the campaigning of a horse.

Noble Yeats’ 2022 Grand National success was a testament to that. The Yeats gelding became the first seven-year-old since 1940 to win the Aintree spectacular, and for extra measure it came just six months after his first start over racecourse fences.

This week Mullins achieved another incredibly impressive feat when he saddled Feronily to win the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase.

The Getaway gelding had only made his competitive debut when winning a five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Rathcannon in November for Ellmarie Holden, yet within six months he is already a Grade 1 winner.

Ready-made

Not only another example of the ready-made winners being sourced from the pointing fields here at present, what makes this victory all the more remarkable, is that unlike horses such as Brindisi Breeze and Finian’s Oscar, who were other Grade 1 winners within a few months of their point-to-point success, Feronily was achieving his top-level success over fences.

Five of his six rivals were also graduates of the pointing fields, but they had won their point-to-points between 2018 and 2020. While they have spent the last few years in bumpers and over hurdles, Feronily went from maiden point to bumper, hurdles and latterly fences in the one season.

As an autumn five-year-old purchase, Mullins clearly felt time was of the essence, but given the early promise that he had shown over point-to-point fences. It will be interesting to see if this enterprising campaign encourages other trainers to send their point-to-point purchases over fences sooner rather than later.

Point-to-Point Ratings

LAST weekend had it all, with quantity and quality in abundance, and it delivered some particularly special performances.

Qualimita (91++) usurped the subsequent Grade 1 winner Brandy Love by achieving the highest ever rating for a mare in winning a maiden point.

Her 30-length debut success at Fairyhouse was recorded in a time that was at least 10 seconds quicker than any of the other three four-year-old maiden races on the card, all achieved without coming off the bridle. This points to something very special and she topped the Goffs Sale at Punchestown.

Histrionic (94+) really asserted after the last to win with plenty up his sleeve at Tralee, while Springt De La Mare (95+) had to master much tougher conditions in Necarne.

Having always been to the fore in a strongly-run race for the conditions, he was one of two smart horses that pulled clear in a time 21 seconds quicker than the card’s average.

Captain Bellamy (97+) ticked all the boxes with his debut success in Dromahane. A 14-length winning margin, combined with a quick time and previous placed form in behind offered real depth to the performance, ensuring this had the look of a top-drawer debut.