Easter Sunday point-to-point at Quakerstown

ALL roads lead to Quakerstown, Boston this Sunday where the annual Clare Hunt point-to-point is being held on the lands of the Lee family.

Racing took place at North Clare venue for the first time 12 months ago and the course was well received by all as illustrated by the fact that regional secretary, Frankie Ward, has handled over 100 entries for Sunday’s six-race card.
Racing action kicks off at 2.30pm with a four-year-old, which will be followed half an hour later by a five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The third race on the card is six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden with winners of one next on the list. The penultimate contest is six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden with a confined maiden for novice riders bringing the fixture to a close.
Derek O’Connor, who stood two ahead of Jamie Codd (74-72) following last weekend’s action in the race for this year’s leading rider award, will be riding at his most local meeting and the Tubber rider, who bagged four winners at this fixture last year, is sure to subject of much interest throughout the afternoon.
The seven-time champion can be relied upon to always give punters a decent run for their money and he looks set to have a host of fancied mounts during the afternoon. Other top jockeys like JT McNamara, the King brothers, Paul O’Neill, Niall Kelleher and Tommy Considine will also be hoping to visit the winners’ enclosure. Trainers, Liam Burke, Paurick O’Connor, Brian Hassett, John Staunton, Malachy Hassett, Jason Titley and Raymond Lee, are just some who will be saddling runners on the day.
Speaking earlier this week, Clare Hunt point-to-point secretary, Paul O’Neill from Quin, was looking forward to a great day’s racing.
“We were thrilled with the feedback we received about the course 12 months ago and that is reflected in the number of enquires for Sunday’s meeting. A large team of helpers have been preparing the track and, as a result of the recent fine spell, we began watering the course on Monday with a view to providing safe racing ground. I’m confident we will have a big turnout on Sunday and we are hoping that the general public will come and support us as usual,” Mr O’Neill said.
Taking in a point-to-point is a great way to spend an afternoon and particularly so at this time of year when it normal practice for the entire family to come and enjoy a picnic or the many side attractions on offer for the younger fans. Ample car parking will be available on-site from where patrons can enjoy a perfect view of racing and Sunday’s meeting is a not-to-be missed occasion.

Costello scores at Dromahane
NEWMARKET-on-Fergus trainer, John Costello, saddled a special winner at last Sunday’s Killeady Harriers’ fixture at Dromahane where his 4/5 favourite Final Gift, carrying the colours of his mother, Josephine, ran away with the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Noted as a future winner when runner-up to Enda Bolger’s Drawn N Drank at Nenagh back in January, Final Gift was ridden by Derek O’Connor and the son of Old Vic hardly came out of second gear when pulling away in the style of a very smart horse to beat runner-up, Assumed Identity, by 10 lengths.
“It is always nice to have a winner but it is even better when he is owned by my mother,” said the winning trainer. “This is a lovely horse and he may very well go for a winners’ race before the end of the season but the ground will decide that as he would not want it too fast,” he added.
It proved a good day for title-chasing O’Connor at the Mallow track on Sunday where he rode four winners. The reigning champion was back in the winners’ enclosure half an hour after Final Gift’s success when steering Embracing Change (3/1), trained in Cork by Tom Lombard, to victory in the winners’ race.
Prominent from an early stage, Embracing Change went clear from four out and never looked in danger after that as he strode to a 10-length victory over even-money favourite Desertmore Valley. Success number three of the afternoon for O’Connor at the Leeside track was gained in the second division of the older geldings’ maiden where 6/4 shot Less Honours battled gamely for success.
Trained in Kinsale by Robert Tyner, this son of City Honours had to dig really deep on the uphill climb to the post to repel the challenge of May Harmony with three-parts of a length separating the pair at the line.
O’Connor’s four-timer was completed in the first division of the older mares’ maiden where he joined forces with his brother Paurick to score aboard Pádraig Duddy’s Tushana.
Sent off at 11/4, this daughter of Darazari improved to lead approaching two out and ran won well from there to beat 9/4 favourite Delgany Blaze by four lengths.
Tushana’s victory was giving her in-form Tubber trainer, Paurick O’Connor, his 14th win of the season, leaving in joint-third place with Wexford handler Denis Murphy in the Handlers’ championship.

Steele’s Rock records follow up
THE Ennis-based Enyaboyu Syndicate had further cause for celebration when their horse, Steele’s Rock, landed his second race in-a-row at Gowran Park last Sunday.
Successful in a maiden hurdle over course and distance four weeks previously, Steele’s Rock went off 9/2 joint-favourite and the improving five-year-old did the business in good style.
A confirmed front-runner, Steele’s Rock was allowed to bowl along at the head of affairs by regular partner, Tom Doyle, in this two-and-a-half-mile contest and he spread-eagled his 14 rivals when coming home three and a half lengths to the good over the Davy Russell-ridden 10/1 shot Ferris Bueller.
The nine-strong syndicate includes Ennis publican, Gerry Kelly and former Clare and Clarecastle hurler, John Callinan; St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield GAA stalwarts, JJ Fahy and Stephen Lahiffe; Ennis-based duo, Tom Saunders and Brendan McNamara and Shannon butcher, Aidan Nagle.
Kevin Purcell, who won two All-Ireland hurling medals with his native Kilkenny in the ’70s, trains the victorious son of King’s Theatre at his Windgap yard. “This is a grand little horse. I was worried about the ground as it was quick enough in parts but he handled it well. We’ll head to the Punchestown Festival with him next where he’ll either go for a novice race or one of those good handicaps as long as there is a bit of cut in the ground,” Mr Purcell said.
There was success last week also for Gort trainer Hannah Lee, whose Social Benefit belied her 20/1 starting price when running out an emphatic winner of the concluding mares’ bumper at Wexford last Friday evening.
This mare by Beneficial, who was having only her third run, was ridden by Waterford amateur Declan Queally and, having hit the front two furlongs out, the five-year-old, who races in the silks of her trainer’s husband, Joe, kept on in great style to deny second-placed Andunowhat by four lengths.