Former Irish point-to-point graduates enjoyed a fantastic run of form at the 2019 Punchestown Festival, winning 30% of the races held over the five day festival.
In fact 12 of the 40 horses that won at the festival began their careers between-the flags, further confirming the point-to-point scene as a fantastic source of equine talent.
Not only was 1 in every 3 races won by a graduate, horses that began their careers in the point-to-point sphere also enjoyed two Grade 1 winners during the week.
The Enda Bolger–trained Blue Templar got the former Irish pointers off to a flying start when taking the opening Ladies Cup on the first day of the festival, before following up again over the banks on Saturday, providing Ray Barron with two Punchestown Festival winners.
Inchdoney four-year-old maiden winner, Zero Ten continued his upwards trajectory when taking the €75,000 EBF Hurdle Final on Wednesday, while Minella Indo took the 3m Grade 1 Novice Hurdle for Henry De Bromhead.
Colreevy concluded a fantastic day for former point-to-pointers when providing Jamie Codd with a Grade 1 winner in the Champion bumper having begun her career with Pat Doyle.
Snugsborough Hall took the big Grade B handicap chase on Wednesday for Liam Cusack, with Ballybroker Bride bringing up the double for former pointers when taking the La Touche under Sean Flanagan for Peter Maher.
Friday saw an opening and closing race double, with the Paddy Hayes-trained Flirting Lesa taking the Farmers race, with Martins Brassil’s Longhouse Poet, a Boulta maiden winner, securing victory in the bumper.
The concluding day of the festival saw the afore mentioned Blue Templar win for the second time inside a week, with the Henry De Bromhead-trained Heron Heights taking the 3m Grade B handicap chase under Davy Russell.
Former open winner, Cloudy Morning showed his staying tendencies when taking the 3m7f handicap chance for the inform Declan Queally, while Ard Abhainn brought down the curtain on a hugely successful week for point-to-point graduates when taking the concluding bumper for Gordon Elliott, having only broken her maiden back around Lingstown in March for Bernie Murphy and owner Pat Coffey.
