Point-To-Point Weekly 22-10-2025

GOLDEN START WEEKLY

Golden Heart makes awinning debut at Loughanmore for Finny Maguire and Jonathan Fogarty Reports, pages 4-5

DEREK O’CONNO

‘Shane Cotter impressed me two years ago and it’s great to see he has put his injury setback behind him so quickly’ Page 2

IN FOCUS JOSHHALFORD

‘Dad is my biggest influence. He keeps me grounded and the four winners Irode for him were very special for both of us’ The rider on the rise talks about the importance of family in settinghim on the right path Page 3

DerekO’Connor Straight to thePoint

Shane’sfightback from injury is an inspirationtoevery rider

THREE wins for rider Shane Cotterprovided one of the highlights of the thirdweekend of the new season.

Shane made apowerful impression when he came on the scene,riding15winners to be crownedchampionunder-21 rider of 2023-24 in his firstseason.

Abrokenleg caused him to miss lastseason’sautumn campaign and, although he managed to recoverwell and getbacktofull fitnessfor the second half of the season, he suffered alossofmomentuminhis career

That’s often the waywhen ayoung rider,however talented, is forcedto spend alongperiod on thesidelines Thereality canbeharsh.Out of sight caneasilyturn into outofmind.

Shane struggledtoget consistently good mounts after makinghis comeback, adding only four wins to his score. Thegood news is that he hasnow equalledthat total fromhis firstten rides of the new season.

He impressedmetwo years ago and it’s greattosee he hasput the setbackbehind him so quickly. Sometimes,thesethings work outfor the best.Inanideal world,none of us would getinjured andeverything would alwaysgosmoothly.

That’s never goingtobethe experience of anyone who rides over jumps. Youhavetotakethe rough with the smooth,and theway you respond to adversity is often the making of acareer.

Afew winners early in the campaign areagreat boosttothe confidence of arider of anyage Shane is sure to getvaluable support and advice from trainer Denis Murphy, who hassaddled his four winners in recentweeks

He gotoff the mark on Britway Belle in afour-year-old mares’ maiden at LoughrealastSunday week, aparticularly sweetsuccessfor the youngrider sincehelosthis claim on this Getawaymare, bred and ownedbyhis grandfather DanCotter

Thefirstofthe pair’s three wins lastweekend wasinthe same category at Saturday’sLoughanmore fixture. Shanetook his time on Eskylady beforeproducingthe Maxios mare to lead on the approach to the last.The race wasalreadyin the bagwhenthe twomarketleaders fell at the final fence

‘The good newsis Shanehas equalled last season’s totaloffour winnersfrom hisfirstten rides of thenew season ’

second at Castletown-Geogheganto takea mares’ maiden at Loughanmore, andErsudalywon a similar race at Tinahely. Barryhas alreadytaken an early lead in thedefence of his title.He completedaTinahelydouble and broughthis total to six for the season when ridingChemical Energy to victoryinthe open for Gordon Elliott in the Noel and Valerie Moran colours –alsoworn by Zanahiyr in the American Grand National Hurdle at FarHills –onanincredible dayfor the stable and everyone involved AlongwithZanahiyr,Chemical Energy raninthe Galway Plate duringthe summer.However,itlooks as if the nine-year-old no longerhas what it takes to compete effectively in the top handicap chases Unfortunately, after showing early promisewith twonovicewins,his chasecareernever progressed aftera second placingbehind GaillardDu Mesnilinthe 2023 National Hunt Chase. They triedhim over the crosscountrycourseatCheltenham and Punchestown lastseason, buthe didn’t really taketoit. Perhaps, if he gets his confidence backinanopen race,hemight starttoenjoy it Gordon hasalsodecided to go point-to-pointingwith TheGoffer, who is ayear younger than Chemical Energy andfinishedinfront of him when fourth in the Glenfarclas at CheltenhamlastMarch.Healsoput in alively effortwhen thirdbehind Gentleman De Meeinthe Topham at Aintree.

He lookedinfineshapewhen winningthe open for novice riders at Umma HouseonSunday, giving Adam Lord his second point-to-point success

Eskylady wasa€22,000 Goffs Arkle store purchase lastyear That looks agoodbuy nowshe haswon first time out, sinceshe’s ahalf-sister to Eskylane who wona bumper and two hurdle races for Gordon Elliott, endingup with aratingof146.

Thepartnership wontwo of the maidens at Tinahely on Sunday. The four-year-old WingsOfEagles

geldingtook the openingrace, showingthe benefit of arun at Dawstown in the spring. Five-yearoldmaidenwinner EmpireSoldier got ataste of Punchestown in last season’sLaToucheCup and will be aimedatthe Ladies’Cup at next year’s festival if all goestoplan. Thechampion team of Colin Bowe and BarryO’Neill hadtosettlefor the runner-up spot in all three races won by the Murphyteam at the weekend. However, Colin gotgoingfor the season when Kano De Thaix stepped up from her opening-weekend

Finally, well done to tworiders who hadtheir firstpoint-to-point winners at the weekend. Jack Johnson rode the StuartCrawfordtrainedColvin to winat Loughanmore, andJessicaGrant, a memberofColin Bowe’s team, took the novice riders’event on the David O’Brien-trainedRoman Parish Both were family successes RomanParish is ownedbyJessica’s father Colm,and Colvin is co-owned by Jack’s father Martin Johnson and grandfather SamMcCullough All in all, amemorable weekend for several young riders,withShane Cottertothe fore.

Youngrider Josh Halford (below) revealshis goals in life

I’M DELIGHTED with howthe new point-topointseasonhas started, with winners on the openingtwo weekends SolitaryMan wasahorse I wasreally excitedabout.He’s gotsomuch class and could go on to do greatthings in hunter chases and opens Ridinghim,and thefiveyear-old ElusiveDreams, has beena real privilege.Both are lovely horses with great owners and I’mverylucky to have the backingofsomeone likeEndaBolger.

All four of my point-to-point winnershavebeenfor Enda.I startedridingfor him in Januaryafter textinghim to ask for aspin

That horsedidn’t runonthe day, butEndainvitedmedown to TipperarytoschoolElusive Dreams.When he said Icould keep the ride if Icame in for schoolingIspoke to Gordon Elliott, who kindlygavemea dayoff eachweek, so I’ve been in Enda’s everyTuesday since. I’ve learnedanunbelievable amountthere. Enda hasbeen so generous with his time and opportunities,and I’mriding nearly allhis pointersnow Outofmylastsix ridesfor him, fivehavebeenwinners

Therestofthe weekI’m in Gordon’s, whereI’vealsohad greatsupport. Gordon sent me toWorcesterinthe summer tooand IrodeWoodland Adventuretowin the bumper Thevariety I’ve been able to experience betweenthe two

‘I’d

love to make apushfor theunder-21title because it’s thelastyearI’m eligible’

yardshas helped me develop massively.

Oneofthe biggestlearning experiences of my career so far wastakingpartinthe Fegentri Gentlemen’sLeagueoverthe summer

PatrickMullins shared the details in the riders’group chat earlyinthe year and I jumped at it

Youneedtoride lightand have at leastfivetrack winners to qualify. Iwas thrilledtobe selected and endedup competingin eightraces acrossseven different countries,ridinga winner in Sweden alongthe way. Travellingthat much, meetingnew people and seeinghow racingisrun abroad wasanincredible education. I’dencourage any young amateur to go for it if theyget thechance. Horses have always been partofmylife.Mydad Michaelrodeasanamateur and trainedfor morethan40

years,while my mamLouise alsorodewinners,including the Ladies Derbyatthe Curraghfor Paul Rooney. Paul hashad along association with ourfamily and supportedusoverthe years,and it wasveryspecial for me to ride acouple of winnersinhis colours.

Dadismybiggest influence.Hekeeps me groundedand wasnever keen on me turning conditional too soon. He believes there’sagreat livingtobe made as an amateur if you work hard enough Thetop amateurs here areverywell respectedand canperformonthe dayatthe very toplevel. At home I’ve gota Doyen filly from the July Sale that I’m producingmyself.Ilovethat side of things.Ilovetobreak and bringhorses on and watch them progress I’ve seen thepressure trainingcan bring– Dad carried it for years –but also howrewarding it canbe.

When Daddecidedtowind down andsellthe yard I reckonheonly kept goingto be able to providehorses and winnerstoget myself,Tommy and Hollygoing. Thefour winnersIrodefor Dadwere very specialfor both of us Racingkeeps ourfamily close. My brother Tommyand sister Holly areboth riding, and we’vehad greatdays together Tommyand Iusedtoclash when we were youngerand bothriding outfor Dad–usually because Tommyis never wrong! Iget as much joy outofseeinghim or Holly ride awinnerasIdoridingone myself.WatchingHollywin twice at Dingle this year wasa proudmoment. She’stinybut tough,with brillianthands and ahugeworkethic.She’ll go far We allcame through showjumping, which gave us a greatgrounding. Icompetedat Dublin and the Horseofthe Year Show,and represented Ireland in Fontainebleauin 2023 with my mare Herle.She later gotinjured,but Ibreda lovely foal from her that’s now atwo-year-old Showjumpingtaughtme balance and precision, even

though the ridingstyle is completelydifferent. WhenI firstwenttoEnda’s he told me to watch John Francome’s documentaryOnce in a Lifetime because he also startedasa showjumper.

Mamworkedincredibly hard to getusgood ponies growingup. My twin sisters Emilyand Jasmine arestill heavilyintoshowjumping, and Tommyand Ipassed down our horses for them to compete I’ll come backto showjumpingone day, but rightnow racingismyfull focus.Idon’t want to look back with regrets,Iwanttogivethis everything.

Thefirstracehorse Ieversat on wasKatiymann. He means the worldtous. My grandad, Michaelsnr,owned him as a two-year-old and always dreamed of aGalway winner.

Katiymann gave him that dream the year he passed away.He’sa special horsefor ourfamily. He gotTommyand me goingunder rules,and Hollyrodehim at the pony racing.

I’minGordon’sstable every dayexceptTuesday, when I’m with Enda,and most evenings,after finishingat

Gordon’s,IgotoPaddy Kennedy’s.

Paddy is atotal gentleman, and he and Jack are outstandinghorsemen. Watchinghow he produces Gordon’syoung horses has taughtmesomuch.Producing horses properlyisanart,and it’s somethingI’d love to do moreofinfuture.

Dadhas mellowed with age, buthestill doesn’t hold backif he thinks I’ve done something wrong. He’s fair and knows exactly what to sayand when He gives me apat on the back when Ideserve it and aquiet word when Ineedit. I’m probably hardestonmyself when Idosomethingwrong. After such apositivestartto the season, my goal is simple, to keep improvingand,ifI do, hopefully the winners will keep coming. I’ll keep learning from the people around me It’s earlydaysyet,but if things continue to go well I’d love to make apush for the under-21 title because it’s the lastyear that I’meligible,and with the supportI’vegot behind me,I’llgiveit everything.

NEWS AND VIEWS EoghainWard

ACTION on the Corkand Waterfordcircuit gets under wayatCurraghmoreonSunday as the season starts to gather momentum.

TheIHRBhas announced severalchanges to fixtures in that region in the coming weeks broughtabout by the ca nce llation of the We st Waterford fixture at Boultaon Saturday, November 22.

As aresult,t he Un ited Clonmult/Dungourneyfixture at the same venuewill be held a for tnightearlier than its original date

It movesfromDecember6to No ve mb er 22 after the Duhallow Kanturkcommittee stepped in to stage an additional fixture.

They will race at Dromahane on Saturday,December6 to ensurethereare no gaps in the calendar and afull complementof27fixturesgoes ahead forthe pre-Christmas term.

Elliott’sfeeling Yankee Doodle Dandy

Gordon Elliott (pictured) enjoyedquite the 24 hours last weekend with amemorable fiv e-timer st at esi de

Fixturechanges fill gaps as season movesintotop gear

supplementedbyaclean sweepofthe weekend’s open prizes betweenthe flags.

Thevictory of Zanahiyr in the valuable Grade 1American Grand National Hurdle wasthe highlightofElliott’s lucrative visit to FarHills,New Jersey, and it wasnot the only success for the eight-year-old’s owners, Noel and ValerieMoran.

Their familiar BectiveStud silks of gree na nd wh it e chevronswith redcap were alsocarried to success at Tinahelylessthan24hours laterwhen Chemical Energy wononhis first startinthe open lightweightdivision. Havingbeenboughtfor €215,000 outofthe Andy and GemmaBrown dispersal sale at TattersallsIreland 20 months ago, the 141-rated chaser con tr ib ute dt oE lliot t’s

domin at ion of the op en category last weekend.

StablemateThe Goffer als om ad e immediateimpa in th eo pe n cat eg or yb y accountingfor the impressive Ca stl et ow nGe ogheg an winner Solitary Maninarace i whic ht he p galloped45lengths clearoftheir rivals,highlightingthe early strengthin the division this season

Ballyboy connection pays dividends

OneofGordon Elliott’sfive American winners, EmilyLove, wa ss ou rc ed from De nis Murphy’s Ballyboy stables,

with the daughter of Mount Nelson havingwon her maiden at Tinahely almostayear he dayofher estsuccess Herfirstprize of $60,000 enhancedher ca re er wi nnin gs , whichinclude he riches from er four hurdle esses in aprofitable 12 months since her openingwin at Tinahely. Las tw ee ke nd ’s cor resp ondi ng fix tu re at the Wi ck lo wv en ue br ou gh t further gloryfor the Wexford handler who hasstarted the season strongly Hislastseven runnershave producedfourwinners,leaving the Ballyboy outfit as oneofthe

mostin-form teams across theseopening weekends of the new campaign

FairwoodParkremains one of Murphy’sfavourite venues on the point-to-pointcircuit

Since 2007, Murphy has saddled35winnersatthe course, with his latestdouble on Su nd ay con tin uin ga particularly goodrecordatthe track’sOctober fixture.

Taking into account those victories,hehas nowsentout sevenwinners at that fixture in thelastfouryears.

Johnson and Grant join first-time winners

Theopening three weekends of the new point-to-pointseason have beenkind to thoseriders startingout in the sport, with four registeringtheirfirst successes in the sphere.

Last weekend, Jack Johnson and Jessica Grantwerethe latest to do so.Johnsonpunchedthe air as Colvincrossed the line in the Loughanmore finale,with championsDerek O’Connor and BarryO’Neillinhot pursuit Aday later,Grant steered RomanParishtosuccessat Tinahely. The19-year-oldhad graduatedfromponyracing, with her Tinahelyvictor y comingonjusther seventhride betweenthe flags

Thesewinners followon from Luke Turner and Tommy Aherne,who have also ridden theirfirstpoint-to-point winnersinrecentweeks

Allthose who securetheir firstwinsinthe spherewill again be eligibletowin a€500 cash prizecourtesyofDungar Quality Oats

Th eT ipper ar y-bas ed companyofowner-breeder TadhgO’Learyintroducedthe prizelastseason, with Dara O’Sullivan the inau gura l winner

TheMeath rider hadlanded his firstwinner at Necarnein Ma y, and wa sr an do ml y selectedfromlastseason’scrop of 23 first-time winners

‘We were very

impressed’ –Saint keeps up excellent start for Quinn team

GER QUINN kept up his great start to the season by saddling his fo ur th wi nner wh e n

Ca do ud al Sain t ma de a successful return to action in the Jackson’s Butcher Shop and Bakery winners-of-two.

A penultimate-fence faller at the Antrim venue on his final start last season, the Frenchbred made no such errors under Noel McParlan as he took the measure of the Tattersalls maiden winner Western Wishes by half a length

“We were very impressed with him today,” Quinn said. “We weren’t even going to run him with the ground being too quick, but he seemed to love it I’d say he’ll end up going for

Star performance

Golden Heart showed a likeable attitude when fighting back after being been headed entering the straight to win in good style

another winners’ contest.”

Denis Murphy and Shane Cotter combined to land a second four-year-old mares’ maiden in six days when Eskylady made a winning start in a dramatic Waste Collection Services-sponsored opener

Seven horses went to post but, after an incident-packed race, only two finished as two fell, two unseated their riders and another slipped up.

The winning daughter of Maxios avoided the strife to beat Lady Blackmore by five and a half lengths, to add to the tally of handler and rider after the success of Britway Belle at Loughrea the previous week.

“She’s a nice mare; her homew ork is very good,” Murphy said. “We’re quite fortunate this year We have a lot of nice fillies and there are probably another four or five to come as well.”

Jonathan Fogarty’s Ivana D’Alco was one of those who fell in the opener, but the Wexford handler gained compensation half an hour later when the Finny Maguire-ridden Golden Heart landed the Dennison

Commercials four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The British-bred grey cost

€50,000 at last year’s Goffs Arkle sale and that could be a worthwhile investment on the basis of his half-length defeat of Power Of Silence

“He’s very tough. I thought I was beaten on the home bend, but I got him balanced and he battled well,” Maguire said. “I had a job trying to pull him up.”

SHILLELAGH & DISTRICT AT TINAHELY SUNDAY

The twice-placed Hello Fortune had his consistency rewarded in the Dennison JCB five-year-old geldings’ maiden in beating former stablemate Keep Joy.

Rob James’s mount had to settle for third when favourite at Monksgrange in March but Donnchadh Doyle’s charge took the required step forward on his first start since, finishing two and a half lengths ahead of and

his four-times-placed rival. Wexford handlers claimed the opening four races, with Colin Bowe joining the crew in the R&E Livestock five-year-oldand-upwards mares’ maiden. Hot favourite Kano De Thaix gave the reigning champion handler his opening winner of the new campaign when the French-bred grey stepped forward from her second at Castletown-Geoghegan on the

Murphy and Cotter double rounds off great

DENIS MURPHY and Shane

Cotter were the combination to follow at Tinahely where the pair had a double to supplement a winner at Loughanmore 24 hours earlier

Finisk Pride was first to strike for the pair when the €31,000 store purchase landed the Winners Enclosure Bookmakers four-year-old maiden.

Four th on his debu t at Dawstown on his only start last season, the Wings Of Eagles bay showed the benefit of that op enin g exp er ience by powering clear of the wellbacked newcomer Impact Sub to win by seven lengths

“He was very green on his first start,” Murphy said. “We let him ou t to gr as s for the summer and he came back a different horse. He’s the first Wings Of Eagles horse I’ve trained and he jumped and

Star performance

Finisk Pride took control of the four-year-old maiden between the final two fences to win as he pleased

travelled very well today. He’ll be sold now.”

Empire Soldier faced just two rivals in the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale five-year-old geldings’ maiden as he brought up the double for the Murphy-Cotter duo

Although just a five-year-old, the Walk In The Park gelding had plenty of experience to draw on having already run seven times, with his latest two outings coming in the crosscountry arena.

A return to that division for a tilt at the Ladies’ Cup is the long-term target for him this

season after the odds-on favourite beat Solar Stride by four and a half lengths

“The whole plan is to go to the Ladies Cup with him this season,” Murphy said. “He’ll probably get a spin around the banks at Lingstown next, and we’ll definitely look at a winners race for him also.”

Cotter was not the only rider to leave Fairwood Park with a double Barry O’Neill, looking for his tenth successive riders’ title, matched the feat as he took his tally this season to six He began by landing the Go re sb ri dg e Se le ct P2 P

National Hunt Sale five-year-old mares’ maiden on Ersudaly who, despite havin g the st ro ng es t for m, wa s not favourite

However, she was still able open her account, making amends for a first-fence fall at

Portrush a week earlier, by beating Ellens Pride by half a length

“She just had a bit of a mish ap last we ek ,” sa id Brendan Walsh, assistant trainer to Bowe

“Barry isn’t even sure what happened. She had been a little bit frustrating previously and we have no great plan for her yet, but I’d imagine we might go down the winners-of-one route with her now.”

O’Neill teamed up with Gordon Elliott to complete his double on Chemical Energy in the Ga rd iner Gr ain and Ballybeg House open for nonGraded winners

Sporting the same silks as the previous evening’s American Grand National hero Zanahiyr, the Noel and Valerie Moranowned nine-year-old made a winning debut between the

flags by beating Routine Excellence by six lengths

“It’s been a great 24 hours for Gordon and the owners,” O’Neill said. “I haven’t spoken with him about this lad, but I’d imagine the plan is for him to progress down the hunterchase route for the season.”

Jessica Grant landed her first success in the saddle when guiding Roman Parish to victory in the INHSC older maiden for novice riders

The 19-year-old had ridden

David O’Brien’s seven-year-old when the pair finished second at Castletown-Geoghegan a fortnight earlier, but they were not to be denied a second time, easily beating Craan Rose by 15 lengths

“This lad is well experienced from running on the track and it’s great to have a horse like him for Jessica to get going and

gain a bit of experience,” O’Brien said. “Jessica started off with me and she also rides out for Colin Bowe.”

Iorens put up a similarly dominant display under David Doyle in the Central House mares’ winner-of-one A finalfence faller at Toomebridge on the opening day of the season when having her first start since joining Sam Curling, the French-bred stormed clear of Mayo Shirocco between the final two fences to win by 14 lengths

“Davy Phelan bought her for me off Turlough O’Connor for these types of races and she sho uld have no problem progressing into a winners-oftwo now,” Curling said.

“Quick ground is ideal for her, so she might get a break now for the winter and come back fresh for the spring.”

opening weekend of the season to take advantage of a winnable opportunity.

Barry O’Neill’s mount was full value for the one-and-a- half length winning margin over Sam Curling’s Shake The Bag.

“She took a bit of time, but she had a good run starting off this season,” O’Neill said. “We fancied her coming here.”

Jack Johnson made his debut in the pointing sphere at

Portrush seven days earlier when riding Colvin into third.

The pair made a swift return to action count as the victory of the Stuart Crawford-trained six-year-old in the Move Right

Th er ap y old er ge ldin gs’ maiden was a first for Johnson.

The Newtownabbey rider confidently produced the son of Yeats to strike the front at the last before beating track recruit Depalma by a length and a half

weekend

The Goffer turns back the clock for Elliott

THE GOFFER, a winner at the Dublin Racing Festival in 2023, made a successful return to the po in tin g sp her e in the Stonehall Stables open for novice riders

Ra te d 149 at his pe ak ,

Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old was without a win since that Leopardstown success, but an 18-race winless spell was ended when he got the better of a memorable tussle with the recent Castletown-Geoghegan winner Solitary Man.

Adam Lord’s mount went ahead approaching the last and prevailed by two and a half lengths, with the pair stretching 45 lengths clear of their rivals.

“We’re delighted with that,” sai d Si mon Mc Go na gle , Elliott’s head lad. “Adam gave him a great ride; they jumped and travelled. He should be a nice horse for open races and hunter chases.”

Brian Lawless was out of luck as a handler when his first runner in that role, Lola De Magny unseated him in the Loughanmore opener 24 hours

Star performance

Taranis Dubh looked to have more in the tank as he picked up again on the runin when challenged

ea rli er Howe ve r, he was among the winners as a rider when guiding Robert Tector’s Dutton Law to victory in the Des Nally Developments and Scarden Farm four-year-old mares’ maiden.

The daughter of Ol’ Man River had luck on her side when Take Some More unseated Alex O’Keeffe at the final fence when holdin g a tw o-len gth advantage That handed her the lead and she came home 32 lengths clear of Aint Over Yet.

Donal O’Connor landed a memorable first double at a track where he already had fond memories

The Cork rider had his first success at the Westmeath course three years ago and he doubled his career tally when Taranis Dubh won the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale

& Jim Derwin Equestrian fouryear-old geldings’ maiden.

Bought for just £2,000, the Kieran Roche-trained bay significantly increased his value by beating Ellmarie Holden’s newcomer Nikolavs Otto by half a length

“He’s a lovely horse. I bought him in Doncaster as a twoyear-old,” Roche said. “He impresses every day you bring him home.”

O’Connor went on to ride his first double when combining with Roche in the Francis Derwin and T Murray and Sons five-year-old-and-upwards mares’ maiden when Arklow proved the class act of the field.

The Workforce-sired debutante dominated from the secondlast to beat Godblessyourosie by 12 lengths

Pa King had double reason to celebrate the win of Muskerry Rock in the O’Roarke Bros older geldings’ maiden as the Tipperary native rode and trained the son of Shirocco Sporting the silks of the tr ainer ’s wi fe Ai ne , the

six-year-old made the most of his prominent position to account for Orkneys Jack by 12 lengths

“That’s my first winner in my wife’s colours,” King said. “We got him out in Castletown to see where we were at and he improved a good bit from it We might try a winners’ race now. Softer ground and a more galloping track should suit him.”

On a day of wide-margin winners, Kenzo Des Bruyers turned the Brian Dunning Farrier Services and McDonnell’s Pharmacy Athlone fiveyear-old geldings’ maiden into a procession.

Eamonn Doyle’s French-bred son of Kapgarde had finished third at Portrush eight days earlier but he was not inconvenienced by the quick turnaround as he returned 22 lengths clear of Gainsville in the hands of Rob James.

“He’s always been a nice horse,” Doyle said. “Kapgardes take a bit of time Rob owns half of him with me and he gave him a great ride today.”

REIKI REVOLUTION, won the Maiden Hurdle by 11 lengths for Gavin Cromwell and owner/breeder James F Dunne

FINISK PRIDE, bred by Kevin Neville, won the 4YO Maiden by 7 lengths for Denis Murphy

Derby winner from the MONTJEU sireline and bred on a similar cross to JUKEBOXJURY