There was plenty of Clare success on the point-to-point fields over the weekend, including a very impressive victory for Ronnie O’Leary’s 7-2 shot It’s A Doddle in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden at last Sunday’s Dromahane, County Cork meeting.

This well-bred son of Oscar was making his debut in this 13-runner contest under champion jockey Derek O’Connor and underlined his potential when forging clear in the closing stages to beat fellow newcomer Pleasant Company by three lengths.

The runner-up is trained in Newmarket-on-Fergus by John Costello, whose Final Gift, owned by his mother, Josephine, landed a hunter’s Chase at Tramore recently, and is one for the notebook.

O’Leary trains It’s A Doddle for his wife Vicky at their Willow Farm Stables at Ogonnelloe yard in East Clare. He disclosed, “We think that It’s A Doddle is a really nice horse. He was showing us plenty at home and it worked out well on the track today as well.

“Derek gave him a smashing ride and he jumped super which is always nice to see. This horse will be sold now and I expect he’ll develop into a high-class sort over the next few years,” added the Cork native who spent many years plying his trade as a jockey in the north of England before returning home to joining the training ranks.

Nine times champion O’Connor was back in the winner’s ­enclosure half an hour later when guiding Unknown Legend (7-1), owned and trained by Clonlara-based Ciaran O’Brien to success in the first division of the six-year-old and upwards maiden.

A son of Heron Island, Unknown Legend was pulled up on his only previous outing at Laurencetown last May but he proved a totally different kettle of fish here as he stayed on well on the uphill climb to the post to beat James Cregan’s Hit The Top by nine lengths. The winner was bred by O’Brien’s father Danny and will now be aimed at a bumper.

It proved a rewarding weekend for O’Connor who had earlier tasted success aboard Robert Tyner’s Who Let The Dogs Out in the five-year-old mares’ maiden as the Tubber rider had also ridden three winners at the north Cork venue 24 hours earlier during the opening session of the Doneraile Harriers’ two-day meeting.

The 29-year-old took the last three races on Saturday’s card, opening his account for the afternoon when steering Sing A New Song to victory for Kilmacthomas, County Waterford trainer Diarmuid Ryan in the mares’ winners’ race.

Sent off at 11-2, the successful King’s Theatre seven-year-old may have had a bit of luck on her side as quite a few of her rivals made errors during a grief-stricken affair allowing O’Connor’s mount to come through in the closing stages to beat the Bon O’Neill-ridden Three Oscars by two lengths.

Veteran Priests Leap, who won the Thyestes Chase at Gowran back in 2008 and 2009, showed he still retains plenty of sparkle when carrying O’Connor to victory in the open lightweight.

Now in training with Robert Tyner in Kinsale, Priests Leap came to tackle 4-5 favourite Boxing Along off the home turn and the 13-year-old stuck his neck out in game fashion to beat that rival by eight lengths.

Paurick O’Connor, who has enjoyed a tremendous run so far, brought his training tally for the season to eight when giving his brother his final success of the day aboard 9-2 chance Thehorsemaytalk in the concluding confined hunt maiden.

The winner, who is bound for the horses in training sale at Doncaster next month, showed good battling qualities when running on powerfully in the closing stages to beat Connies Cross by four lengths.

There was also point-to-point racing at Stradbally, County Laois, last Sunday where Newmarket-on-Fergus trainer Tom Costello took the opener with 3-1 shot Blakemount.

Owned by David McCarthy, the Tattersalls Ireland sales graduate was always in the front rank and he showed a nice turn of foot under a confident ride from Robbie McNamara when quickening up impressively on the run-in to beat Not Another Monday by half a length.

 

McNamara moved to Dublin hospital

With the high-profile Punchestown Festival grabbing all the headlines this week, one familiar name sadly missing from the five-day meeting is that of leading Limerick amateur rider John Thomas McNamara.

Injured in a horrific fall from Galaxy Rock at the first fence in the Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham last month, McNamara had been in the Frenchay Hospital in Bristol since, but he was moved last Sunday to the National Spinal Unit in Dublin’s Mater Hospital which is a good news for his family who had been hoping he would be well enough to be moved nearer home.

A statement was issued on Monday by Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Turf Club senior medical officer and Lisa Hancock, chief executive officer of the Injured Jockeys Fund of behalf of the McNamara family.

It read, “John Thomas McNamara arrived safely yesterday at the National Spinal Unit in the Mater Hospital, Dublin. The Stewards of the Turf Club and Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee wish to express our sincerest thanks to everyone who looked after John Thomas following his fall at Cheltenham. In particular we would like to thank the medical staff at Cheltenham, the air ambulance crew who transported him from Cheltenham racecourse to Frenchay Hospital, Bristol and all the doctors and staff at Frenchay Hospital for their fantastic care over the last five weeks. We would like to say a special thanks to the Injured Jockeys Fund in Great Britain for all they did for John Thomas and his family, in particular Lisa Hancock, chief executive, and the two almoners Julia Mangan and Marie King whose kindness meant so much.

“John Thomas is looking forward to the next phase of his treatment and rehabilitation in Ireland. We thank everyone for their on-going support and prayers and ask people to continue to respect the privacy of the McNamara family.”

McNamara is one of the most decorated amateur riders this country has ever produced with the Croom native having ridden four Cheltenham Festival winners to add to his 602 wins in the point-to-point fields.

His association with leading owner JP McManus and top trainer Enda Bolger has seen the trio dominate the hunter chase sphere here in Ireland over the past 15 years and his injury has led a huge outpouring of goodwill towards the 38-year-old who is one of the most popular and respected figures in Irish racing circles.