Tag Archives: Clare horse racing

Kilmaley native, Richard O’Brien, came in for lavish praise following the success of Paul Nolan’s well-fancied newcomer, Cut The Rope (5/1), in the concluding four-year-old bumper at Naas on Sunday. O’Brien is a very successful trainer based in Ballingarry, County Limerick and it was on his advice that the Nolan camp purchased Cut The Rope, before he made his racecourse debut at the Kildare track. Cork jockey Eoin O’Brien did the steering aboard the son of Sea The Stars, who jumped off in front. Turning for home the pair still held the call and, quickening smartly off what was a strong enough pace, Cut The Rope held off the late effort of Gordon Elliott’s 7/4 favourite Ankud by two lengths. The first two home look decent and it was a good sign that they pulled half-a-dozen lengths clear of third-placed Cappucino. James Nolan, representing his brother Paul, remarked: “We cannot take much of the credit for this, it must go …

It was time for the point-to-point fraternity to celebrate as the Irish National Hunt steeplechase Committee point-to-point Awards night made a welcome return last Saturday after a three-year absence. A large crowd made their way to Dunboyne Castle in County Meath where the 2022 winners were honoured. Tubber’s Derek O’Connor picked up the Senior Riders’ crown. This was third title in this category (he also won it in 2018 and 2019) as the former record-breaking 11-time champion finished the 2021/22 season with a fine tally of 25 wins. Wexford jockey Barry O’Neill collected his sixth consecutive Leading Rider award, posting the huge tally of 61 winners during the season. O’Neill also claimed the Northern and Eastern Regional title, while sharing the Southern Regional title with Waterford jockey James Hannon. Tipperary rider Pa King came out on top in the Western Region. Colin Bowe, was crowned Leading Handler – he was picking up his 10th title – having sent out 46 …

A BUMPER crowd is expected to attend Bellharbour on Sunday, where the County Clare Hunt are hosting their eagerly-awaited point-to-point fixture, writes Michael Duggan. The recent lifting of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions have come at just the right time for pointing fans, and Sunday promises to be a fantastic day’s racing. Quin man, Paul O’Neill, who is one of the chief organisers of the meeting, told The Clare Champion earlier this week: “We are so looking forward to this weekend. Thankfully, things are slowly but surely returning to normal post-Covid, and the easing of restrictions has been sweet music to our ears. “Anybody travelling to Bellharbour on Sunday does not have to do anything other than turn up on the day. All the pre-registering issues and stuff like that have been done away with and that certainly makes life easier for all concerned.” In recent times, the hosting of a point-to-point has evolved into a fun day for all, and …