UK Point-to-Point Round Up 02nd February

Over the weekend there were three point fixtures held in the UK and former Irish point-to-pointers found success at all three venues. Irish horses accounted for eight of last weekend UK pointing winners.

We take a closer look below at where some of these stand out winners started off their racing careers.

Saturday, 01st February 2020

Horseheath, Cambridgeshire

The Men’s open race went to the Irish point graduate Law Of Gold for trainer David Kemp. The son of Gold Well returned home 12 lengths clear of his rivals under David Peters. The success marked the geldings fifth success in UK points. Law Of Gold has been a consistent and genuine performer over the past two seasons for David and Imogen Kemp.

Originally handled by Sean Doyle, the seven-year-old was third in his final run in Ireland at Tralee in 2017 before transitioning to the points in the UK. He has since landed a hunter chase at Stratford in May of 2019.

Bawnmore vindicated the promise of his third-placed effort at Larkhill in January when securing success in the open maiden for four-five-and-six-year olds for the husband and wife combination of Tom Ellis and Gina Andrews.

This chestnut six-year-old showed the benefit of his experience when beating Go Go Geronimo by three lengths. Sam Curling initially trained the gelding in Irish points where he ran three times with his final effort being his best when placing third at Stradbally before being sold for £6,000 to Tom Ellis at the Goffs UK sale in 2019.

Sunday, 02nd February 2020

Alnwick, Northumberland

Kalabaloo justified her odds-on favouritism when recording a three-and-a-half-length victory in the ladies open for Tom Ellis. The eight-year-old, who is a seven-time UK points winner has also landed a victory in the Cheltenham hunter chase in May 2019.

The daughter of Kalanisi started life out with Tipperary handler Sam Curling when winning on debut in her five-and-six-year-old mares’ maiden at Dromahane in 2017.

Former Donnchadh Doyle inmate, Rio Des Echanault, enjoyed success in the restricted race at Alnwick when battling it to out to the line, once again, in a thrilling finish, to get up by a short head. The Son of Satri was sold privately from the Monbeg stables last summer after finishing in the first four on all three Pointing starts in Ireland over a four-week spell at the end of the 2019 campaign.

The six-year-old has now recorded back to back successes, having found victory in January when also battling it out on the run-in to beat Liars Dice by a head for his UK handler Victoria McKie.

Milbourne St Andrew, Dorset

Former Irish pointer, Imogens Thunder, got up by a head in the eight-runner hunt members race for handler Mary Troy. The Stowaway-sired gelding made his UK point-to-point debut back in 2018 and has claimed victory in four out of his fifteen starts.

The nine-year-old ran twice in Irish points, with his best effort being in a six-year-old geldings’ maiden when he finished fifth at Kinsale in 2017 for handler Roger McGrath.