Smooth success for O’Connor at Roscommon point-to-point

Derek O’Connor was on the score sheet on the point-to-point front at last Sunday’s Roscommon Hunt meeting at Rockfield where he guided hot-favourite Top Twig (4/9F) to a smooth success in the open lightweight. Derek O’Connor was on the score sheet on the point-to-point front at last Sunday’s Roscommon Hunt meeting at Rockfield where he guided hot-favourite Top Twig (4/9F) to a smooth success in the open lightweight.
Trained in Fermanagh by David Christie for the nine-strong Enniskillen-based Sporting Pointers Syndicate, Top Twig had things very much his own way in this seven-runner contest and hardly came out of second gear when passing the post a length-and-a-half ahead of runner-up Definite Appeal. The winner, who was landing his 18th success between the flags, may well turn out again at Maralin this Saturday before heading for a Hunter Chase at Down Royal over Christmas.
The 2008 Grand National runner-up, King John’s Castle, bred in Quin by John O’Neill, made his debut here for trainer Enda Bolger and ran a respectable race to fill third, having been off the track since refusing to race in the National at Aintree in April.
In-form O’Connor was further honoured, as the Tubber jockey was among the four names short listed for the point-to-point award when the nominees were revealed for the 2010 Horse Racing Ireland awards last Monday.
O’Connor, who also won the accolade 12 months ago, is joined in the final four by Colin Bowe, James Motherway and Barry O’Neill.
Limerick trainer, Charles Byrnes, thanks to his exploits with the likes of Weapons Amnesty and Solwhit, has been nominated for the National Hunt Award where he faces stiff opposition from Willie Mullins, Gigginstown House Stud and Ruby Walsh.
The winners, who will be voted on by members of the Irish racing media, will be announced at a reception to be held at Leopardstown Pavilion on Monday, December 13.

Open meeting at Cheltenham

The arrival of the three-day open meeting at Cheltenham really sees the National Hunt season hit top gear and the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday afternoon looks a fascinating contest.
Spancilhill trainer, Noel Glynn will be represented in this two-mile, five-furlong Handicap Chase by Gonebeyondrecall. This son of Dr Massini has won two of his last three starts, having only lost out last time when second to Beau Michael at Tipperary and, while he is not among the leading fancies, he may well run a much better race than his ante-post price of 50/1 suggests.
Nicky Henderson has his team in flying form at the moment and his Long Run is likely to go off favourite. David Pipe, whose father Martin won this race eight times as a trainer, will fancy the chances of his runner, Great Endeavour, while Henderson’s second-string Mad Max could also be in the shake-up.
Edward O’Grady, successful last year with runaway winner Tranquil Sea could bid for back-to-back wins with that horse, while the Thurles handler also has Catch Me and Osana in the line-up. JP McManus’ Galway Plate winner, Finger On The Pulse is an intended runner for Tom Taaffe, while the same colours may well be carried in the race by Dancing Tornado from Michael Hourigan’s Limerick stable.
Sunday afternoon’s Greatwood Handicap Hurdle could have a big bearing on things, Champion Hurdle wise, later on in the season. Philip Hobbs’ Menorah ran out a good winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival back in March and, while he is only a five-year-old, he will want to advertise his credentials.
All eyes on Friday’s opening day session at Prestbury Park will be on Colin Tizzard’s Cue Card in the novice hurdle. A shock 33/1 winner of the Champion Bumper on St Patrick’s Day, this son of King’s Theatre bolted-up on his hurdling debut at Liverpool last month, signalling he may well be a future star over timber.

Ruby’s bad fall

The highs and lows of jump racing were never more cruelly illustrated that at Down Royal last Saturday where Ruby Walsh, just minutes after recording a big-race double with Kauto Star and The Nightingale, suffered a crashing fall that left the Kildare rider with a broken leg.
Walsh was riding Corrick Bridge for Meath trainer, Tony Martin in the handicap chase when his mount shipped a heavy fall at the fifth fence, catapulting his jockey into the ground. It was clear that Walsh was in trouble as he lay on the turf clutching his right leg, and his worst fears were realised when, following x-rays at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, it was confirmed that he had broken his tibia and his fibula.
The reigning champion underwent surgery at the hospital on Sunday morning and, while it was first feared that Walsh may be out for the rest of the season, speaking on Monday afternoon the 30-year-old revealed his aim is to be back in action in 12 weeks.
“I have had serious injuries before and I all want now it to look forward to my return. These things happen in racing and you can’t be all doom and gloom about it,” he said.
Ironically, Walsh had just given Kauto Star his usually polished ride to land the featured JNwine.com Chase before tragedy struck. On the sidelines since falling in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March, Kauto Star went off 4/7 favourite to make a winning start to his season and he landed the odds with a hard-fought win.
Settled in second behind outsider Killyglen in the early stages, Kauto Star moved up to challenge new leader China Rock at the runners’ approached the third last. Walsh sent Kauto Star about his business on the run to the second last and the dual Gold Cup winner asserted to beat the staying-on Sizing Europe by four lengths. China Rock was a further neck away in third.
This was an ideal return to action for Kauto Star and his trainer Paul Nicholls was thrilled with the Clive Smith-owned chaser’s display.
“It was just the start we wanted, he jumped great and we can go on from here. You never know after having a fall like he had whether they will lose their confidence or not, but we did a lot of schooling with him and he seems to be in tip-top shape,” he said.
There is speculation in some quarters that Kauto Star may run in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Nov 27, but Nicholls admitted he hadn’t fully made up mind.
“I’ll know fairly quickly during the week whether he’ll go for the Hennessy or not, it all depends on how he comes out of this race. We will be able to tell how hard a race he had, or how much the journey has taken out of him,” he said.
Runner-up, Sizing Europe was on something of fact-finding mission as Henry De Bromhead’s stable star was trying three miles for the just the second time in his career.
Andrew Lynch’s mount, who fiddled the first two fences, jumped well in the main and wasn’t showing any signs of stopping at the end of this race, which suggests that, like Kauto Star, he may go for King George at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.
Nicholls enjoyed further glory when The Nightingale landed the Grade 2 Ladbrokes.com chase. His task was eased when Noel Meade’s Pandorama was withdrawn at the start on veterinary advice and Walsh took full advantage when driving the Graham Roach-owned seven-year-old clear to beat runner-up Roberta Goldback by 11 lengths.