JUMP racing fans will be heading en-masse to Quakerstown, Boston, next Sunday where the annual County Clare Hunt Easter Sunday Point-to-Point is taking place on the lands of the Lee family.
This fixture has really grown in stature since the meeting moved here a few years back and, with this year’s Cheltenham Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner, Champagne Fever having won his maiden here back in 2011, it is quite possible punters may well witness some future Prestbury Park stars in action.

Racing on Sunday kicks off at 2pm with a four-year-old maiden and this will be followed half an hour later by a similar event for five-year-olds. A five and six-year-old mares’ maiden in next on the list with a winners’ race the fourth event on the card. A six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden is the penultimate contest with the always popular confined maiden bringing proceedings to a close.

As is always the case at this venue, a trip to the winners’ enclosure will be much sought after. Regional secretary, Frankie Ward, had been busy accepting entries for this popular fixture with most of the top trainers in the country represented and the fact that a total of 148 horses have been entered for Sunday reflects just how competitive racing is going to be.

County Clare Hunt point-to-point secretary, Paul O’Neill, is looking forward to the weekend’s action.

“Everything is set up for a superb day’s racing. The track in excellent shape and great drying over the last few days has left the ground perfect for jump racing.

“We have a lot of interest in the meeting from point-to-point people all over Ireland and it looks like being one of our busiest fixtures yet. A lot of horses that have won at Quakerstown in the past have gone to land some big races inside the rails and that has raised the profile of the fixture in a big way,” he said.

Pointing out that a day at a point-to-point is one to be enjoyed by all, the Quin man added, “We would very much like to attract families to Sunday’s meeting. We see it as ideal opportunity for all members of the family to enjoy the day out and we will be laying-on some on-site entertainment for kids to keep the younger brigade entertained.”

Derek O’Connor, who had to sit out last weekend’s action due to a suspension picked up earlier this month at Downpatrick, will be riding at what is his local course and it will come as a huge surprise if the nine-time champion fails to hit the target.

The 29-year-old is sure to have a good book of rides and every winner will be welcome as the award-winning Tubber jockey bids to close the gap on Jamie Codd who currently leads the riders’ championship by four (52-48) following  his hat-trick at last Sunday’s Borris House meeting in Carlow.

Paul O’Neill, Niall Kelleher and James Conheady are other Clare-based riders to follow, while on the training front, Brian Hassett, Paurick O’Connor and John Staunton, who had a double at this fixture 12 months ago, will also be fancying their chances.

Newmarket-on-Fergus trainer, John Costello also has horses entered and he will goes into Sunday’s meeting in top form having sent out smart newcomer, Tara Road to land the first division of the concluding confined maiden at the Galway Blazers meeting at Athenry last Sunday. Cork jockey Mikey O’Connor did the steering aboard this son of Kayf Tara who displayed a nice turn of foot in the closing stages to beat Ed’s Legacy by five lengths.

Sadly, a Quakerstown regular and popular jockey, John Thomas McNamara will be missing on Sunday due to his horrific accident in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham.  The latest news on the Croom rider is that he is now fully conscious and, while he is still in the intensive care unit of Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, he will be moved to the special spinal unit the Dublin’s Mater Hospital as soon as his condition permits to allow him be closer to his family.

Bolger dominates with four-timer

JIM Bolger stole the show at the Curragh last Sunday where, on the opening day of the 2013 flat season, the Coolcullen, County Carlow handled saddled four winners.

The 72-year-old has lost of none of his enthusiasm for the game and the highlight of his haul was the success of his Rehn’s Nest who overcame to the heavy ground to land the one-mile Group 3 Lodge Park Stud EPF Park Express Stakes.

Ridden by Rory Cleary, this filly by Authorised, earned herself a 33/1 quote for the Investec Oaks when staying on well to hold off the determined run of 8/11 favourite Yellow Rosebud by one and three-quarter lengths.

“She handles that soft ground, which is a big help,” said Bolger. “She is in the Oaks and I’m pretty sure she is in the Guineas as well. I’m think this filly will handle a mile and a half and her dam, who is by Galileo, was one of his first winners as a stallion.”

Bolger’s son-in-law, Kevin Manning was on board his other three winners with the pair striking first in the opening Tally Ho Stud five-furlong maiden where 5/4 favourite Saburo flew home to beat runner-up My Saphire by two and a quarter lengths.

Thirty minutes later, Bolger and Manning were back in the number-one berth following the six-furlong maiden where his 5/1 newcomer Caesaria pipped Aidan O’Brien’s Master Speaker to score by a head.
Manning completed his treble and Bolger’s four-timer when guiding the well-backed Alpinist to victory in the concluding one-mile maiden.

Former champion jump jockey, Tommy Carmody has received a new lease of life since teaming up top flat jockey Johnny Murtagh and the duo tasted success when combining to land the valuable €100,000 BetVictor Irish Lincoln with10/1 shot Sweet Lightning.

Sent to the front a furlong and a half out by Murtagh, Sweet Lightning stayed on really well as the Fantastic Light eight-year-old defeated Harry Rogers’ runner-up Cheval Rouge by three lengths. The winner will return to the Kildare track in two weeks time to contest a listed race.

Increased prize money at Punchestown

PUNCHESTOWN Racecourse have announced a €200,000 increase to the overall prize fund for their 2013 Irish National Hunt Festival which runs from April 23rd to 27. The further investment will bring the overall prize fund to €2,182,515 and cement the event as Ireland’s premier jump racing festival.

The bulk of the cash injection will be split between the feature race on the opening day the Boylesports.com Champion Chase and Friday’s Rabobank Champion Hurdle. Both features will now boast a pot of €200,000 up €60,000 on last year’s champion chase and €40,000 on the 2012 running of the champion hurdle.

Ireland’s champion national hunt trainer Willie Mullins, said, “This is a great compliment to the sponsors who have further invested in our industry. I must take this opportunity to thank those involved HRI, Punchestown and of course the sponsors.”

Reflecting on the added prize money, Dick O’Sullivan, Punchestown general manager said, “This move is part of our strategy to retain Punchestown’s position as Ireland’s premier jump festival. The Punchestown Festival attracts the top horses from Ireland and the UK and obviously the prize fund plays a major part in making the decision to run here. This has been a joint initiative between ourselves, HRI, Ladbrokes, Boylesports, Rabobank and our panel of sponsors.”

Brian Kavanagh, Horse Racing Ireland chief executive said, “We are all looking forward to what could possibly be the best Punchestown ever. Following a record-breaking Irish campaign at Cheltenham, we are truly in a golden era for Irish racing. My full compliments to the team at Punchestown for putting their own and the sponsors’ resources into increasing the prize fund for these races. We are proud to support them.”