The UK point-to-point action continued over the Christmas holidays which saw former Irish pointers enter the winner’s enclosure at the two meetings which were held on the 29th and 31st December.
The Harkaway Club meeting at Chaddesley Corbett in Worcestershire saw Irish point-to-pointers win five of the nine races on the day.
Winterberry, formerly owned and trained by Brian Hamilton, ran four times last season which saw him lose his maiden tag at Loughanmore on Easter Monday. The son of Fruits of Love was making his debut for his new handler Robert Luke having been bought by at the Goffs UK sale in August. His runner-up, Delkantra, who was placed twice last season for the Jim Dreaper yard was also making his seasonal reappearance having won his maiden at Trecoed in Pembrokshire last June.
Tucks Bergin gained his due reward in the second division of the club members maiden for four, five-and-six-year-olds having been placed on five occasions in the spring. Third at Lingstown in December for Peter Flood, the son of Getaway is now in the care of Carlie Packwood for his new owner, Chris Williams and supplied his rider, Lorcan Williams with his second winner on the day.
Ex-French recruit War Path, who was fourth at Athlacca for Pat O’Rourke on his only Irish point-to-point start recorded his fifth UK success when he took the Club Members race for his trainer and rider combination of Hannah Lewis. Lewis also bought a half-sister to War Path at the Ascot May sale, Silver Louna who was also runner-up on three occasions last spring for Pat O’Rourke. The son of Walk In The Park had finished second at Bishops Court on the opening day of the season.
The Mens Open went the way of Battle Dust who was returning to point-to-points having ran on the track for the past two seasons where he won a novice hurdle at Chepstow for Kim Bailey. Ridden to victory by Derek O’Connor at Dungarvan two years ago for Rosemary Rooney, the son of Portrait Gallery was providing his trainer, Philip Rowley with his third winner this season.
Crowded Room (pictured) was another Irish point-to-point graduate to make a winning seasonal reappearance when he ran out a 20 length winner of the Club Members race for novice riders and in doing so provided his handler and rider Callum Bickers-Price with his first success in the saddle.
A winner at Kirkistown in February for Marshal Watson and owner Ray Nicholas, the 12-year-old moved to the David Christie yard and enjoyed a further two placed runs at Necarne and Ballingarry before being sold to his new owners, Nick Price and Helen Millward.
The fixture at Cottenham, Cambridgeshire saw former Irish pointers win five of the seven races on the day.
The former JP Berry-trained In A Blue Dust provided his handler, Nick Wright with the first of three winners on the day when he won the Hunt Club Conditions race on what was his first racecourse appearance for more than three years. Third in a four-year-old maiden at Templemore in 2013, the nine-year-old was produced late under his handler’s son, Archie and held onto to win by two and a quarter lengths at the finish.
Now Ben ran out the impressive 25 length winner of the Mens Open for the Shropshire-based handler, Phil Rowley. A winner at Lismore in 2013 for Gareth Ahern, the son of Beneficial was last season's Champion Novice Hunter Chaser following wins at Ludlow and Stratford-On-Avon. The ten-year-old who has now won three times at Cottenham has won nine point-to-points and is part-owned by bloodstock agent, David Minton.
Just Cause followed up his runner-up effort at Barbury in November when he ran out the easy winner of the Club Member’s Conditions race for his owner and rider, Tim Gredley who is a former international showjumper. A winner at Boulta in 2014 for Mouse Morris, the eight-year-old had won two hurdles for his former connections, Gigginstown House stud, before being sold to his current owner for £20,000 at the Goffs UK September sale last year.
Almost There provided Nick and Archie Wright with their third winner of the afternoon when the former Jerry Cosgrave-trained mare won the three mile Open Maiden. The seven-year-old was having her debut run for her new connections having been placed in three Irish point-to-points before being subsequently sold for £10,500 at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot May sale.
Last season’s national champion rider, Will Biddick steered the former Philip Rothwell-trained Dannys Star to victory in the concluding race of the day, the 2m4f four-five-and-six-year-old Open Maiden. Third at Ballingarry behind The Canny Man in 2016, the son of Winged Love had two runs last spring where he finished third on both occasions for his Worcester-based trainer Martin Weston.
