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NEXT GEN: Niall Prendergast
Niall Prendergast is our latest rider to feature in our next generation section. From Co. Tipperary, twenty one-year-old Niall was in the winner’s enclosure at Oldtown on Sunday aboard Calderone in the older maiden. This is Niall’s first season to ride in point-to-points and he has had seven rides to date.
Name: Niall Prendergast
Age: 21
Area: Killenaule
How did you become involved in racing?
I was lucky to have grown up around horses as my dad Denis trains point-to-pointers. From a young age I began riding and really enjoyed it. I hunted with the Premier Harriers and Tipperary Foxhounds and when I was 16 I went to RACE.
I spent a year with Johnny Murtagh and really enjoyed it. I came back home and finished school and when I had my leaving cert done I went to Paul Nolans for a year. After Paul I went to Colm Murphys and took out a conditional licence. When Colm stopped training I started working for Shark and have been with him since then. I ride out with Shark every morning and then I help a few other yards around about in the afternoons.
What's your favourite course?
Oldtown is definitely my favourite point-to-point course so far as I rode my first winner there and I would have to say Leopardstown is my favourite race track.
Give us a horse to watch out for?
Shark has a nice bunch of horses for the season. One in particular would be a four-year-old gelding by Arakan.
What was the best day of your racing life?
It is definitely riding my first winner at Oldtown aboard Calderone on Sunday. I ride him out every day and have schooled him every time since he arrived in the yard.
Who’s your biggest influence?
Kevin Power and Shane Hasset have been a great help to me as well as Johnny Murtagh who has given me loads of advice since I started riding.
What is your one of your favourite racing memory?
When I was about 14 my dad trained Grade One winner, Gods Own to finish second at Athlacca in a four-year-old maiden.
What improvements would you like to see to in point-to-points?
I think there is a good programme for novice riders in point-to-points as most weekends this spring have a novice rider race on.
Ambitions for this season?
I would like to try and get as many rides as possible throughout the season and get a few more winners before the end of the season.
To read about some of our other featured riders this season click on the link below.
www.p2p.ie/content.php
The two-day 2019 Goffs UK January Sale came to a conclusion today
with Irish Pointer Presentandcounting topping the sale.
Leading point-to-point riders Rob James and Richie Deegan have
secured rides in the valuable handicap.
Check out the Point-to-Point Weekly, the free point-to-point pull
out in today's Racing Post.
Limerick Harriers moving to new track at Ballycahane for their
March fixture.
The Wexford Hunt committee will be holding a schooling day on
Tuesday 5th February at Ballinaboola.
There will be fun for all the family at the upcoming Co. Clare
fixture including a Lady Members Charity race.
It is all systems go for the Dungarvan point to point at
Kilossera this weekend with the course is in great shape in
advance of Sundays meeting.
There will be schooling available at Tyrella after racing on
Saturday 26th January 2019.
Gordon Elliott's Ucello Conti recorded his second victory within
seven days following his last success with Barry O'Neill.
Michael Sweeney recorded his seventh success of the season in
ultra-dramatic fashion at Boulta on Sunday.
Almost a quarter of the entries for the Sun Racing Stayers'
Hurdle at Cheltenham are former Irish point-to-pointers.
Jamie Codd is closing in on a return to the saddle following a
partially collapsed lung that he suffered at Limerick.
The OLBG Mares Grade 1 Hurdle has attracted a strong entry of 30
mares which includes six Irish Point to Pointers.
The entries for the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle at the
Cheltenham Festival have increased this year with a total of 27
entered.
Templencarriga winner Monalee features among a strong initial
entry of Irish Pointers for the Ryanair Chase in March.
The Dromahane graduate will be looking to become the first horse
since Best Mate to win consecutive Gold Cups.
Impulsive Leader and Beakstown enjoyed big race success, whilst
Derek O'Connor made a winning visit to Warwick.
Ciaran Fennessy has announced that he is to retire from race
riding following a successful career.
Tipperary rider Pa King recorded his 100th pointing success
aboard Go To Court at the Kilmoganny fixture on Sunday.
The Tipperary native rode the likes of Ned Kelly and subsequent
Welsh National winner Mountainous between the flags.
Derek O'Connor became the first rider in the history of the sport
to reach 1,200 winners at Dromahane on Sunday.
The Lemonfield scorer returned to the winner's enclosure for the
second time over the Christmas period with her Listed success.
Jamie Codd is facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a
partially collapsed lung in a fall at Limerick over Christmas
The hunt club have two sets of fences available at competitive
prices which been proving popular this season.
Recent Yeats Tattersalls winner, Chantry House, commanded
top-billing on a big night at the sales for point-to-pointers.
Horse Racing Ireland are to increase the prize money for older
races by 13% in point-to-points.
The well-related mare was bought for E230,000 the biggest price
paid for a NH mare here in over ten years.
A total of 79 point-to-point fixtures will take place in the
spring campaign right through to the June Bank Holiday.
Ronan McNally enjoyed a day to remember at Hexham on Monday when
his stable veteran See Double You won his tenth races at the ripe
old age of 15.
