The 2000/01 season saw seventeen individual pointing graduates win twenty three Graded contests with five horses managing Grade One success. Davids Lad fared best with three Graded events including a Grade
One in the Irish Grand National while Florida Pearl took the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown. Ballinclay King, Best Mate and Garruth all took Grade One Novice Events to ensure the future is also bright.
A special mention must also go to the mare Function Dream who although not in the Grade One category took three graded contests and beat many Grade One winners in doing so. All in all another successful year for the ‘Irish Pointer’
GRADE ONE WINNERS
BEST MATE 1995 g by Un Desperado –Katday (Millers Mate)
Independent Novices Chase Gr.2 2 miles Cheltenham
Weatherbys Scilly Isles Novices Chase Gr.1 Sandown Park 2 ½ miles
BALLINCLAY KING 1994 g by Asir – Clonroche Artic – (Pauper)
Martell Maghull Novices Chase Gr.1 Aintree 2 miles
DAVIDS LAD 1995 g by Yashgan – Cool Nora (Lafontaine)
Appliances Chase Gr.2 Fairyhouse 2 ½ miles
Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National Chase Gr.1 3m5f
E.B.F. Chase Gr.3 Navan 3 miles
FLORIDA PEARL1992 g Florida Son – Ice Pearl (Flatbush)
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Chase Gr.1 Leopaedstown 3 miles
GARRUTH 1994 g by Good Thyne – Lady Sipash (Erins Hope)
ILJ is fifth Novices Hurdle Gr.2 3miles Cheltenham
Martell Sefton Novices Hurdle Gr.1 Aintree 3 miles
Other Graded Winners
BINDAREE 1994 g by Roselier(FR) –Flowing Tide (Main Reef)
Courage Best Bitter Novices Chase Gr.2 2m3f Chepstow
BOB TREACY 1989 g by Over The River(FR) – Banish Fortune(Master Owen)
Cuisine de France Thystes Chase Gowran Park Gr.2 3 miles
BOSS DOYLE 1992 g by Lapierre – Prolific Shot (Northern Guest(USA))
John Smith’s Hurdle Gr.2 3m1f Wetherby
CALL ME DARA 1993 m by Arapahos –Dara’s Last (March Parade)
paddypower.com Chase Gr.2 3 miles Leopardstown
DIRECT ACCESS 1995 g by Roselier(FR) – Spanish Flame (Spanish Place)
EBF National Hunt Novices Handicap Hurdle Gr.3 Sandown Park 2 ½ miles
FUNCTION DREAM 1992 m by Strong Gale – Rare Dream (Pollerton)
Castleford Chase Gr.2 2miles Wetherby
Victor Chandler Chase Gr.2 Ascot 2 miles
Mitsubishi Shogun Game Spirit Chase Gr.2 Newbury 2m1f
LYREEN WONDER 1993 g by Derrylin – Coole Pilate (Celtic Cone)
Pierce Group Troytown Chase Gr.2 3 miles Navan
MERRY PEOPLE 1988 g by Lafontaine – Merry Madness (Raise You Ten)
Denny Gold Medal Chase-Gr.3- 2 ½ miles Tralee
NORTHERN SOUND 1993 m Montelimar (USA)– Castle Felda (Le Moss)
Grand National Trial Chase Gr.3 Fairyhouse 3m1f
OVER THE FURZE 1993 g Over The River(Fr) – Furry Gran (Furry Glen)
William Neville & Sons Chase Gr.3 Leopardstown 3 miles
THE DELL 1993 b g by Denel - Rocks Rose (Little Buskins)
Smirnoff Chase L. 2m6f Galway
VALLEY HENRY 1995 g by Step Together – Pineway VII
Persian War Novices Hurdle Gr.2 2 ½ miles Chepstow
2000/2001 NH Season
BEST MATE 1995 g by Un Desperado –Katday (Millers Mate)
Independent Novices Chase Gr.2 2 miles Cheltenham
Weatherbys Scilly Isles Novices Chase Gr.1 Sandown Park 2 ½ miles
As a foal Best Mate cost £2,500Ir from Tattersalls.
Best Mate pulled up on his initial outing at Lismore where Henrietta Knight and Terry Biddlecombe were in attendance. The pair liked what they saw and agreed to purchase the son of Un Desperado. However Tom Costello expressed his wish to win a point before the sale would be sealed. Best Mate then went to Tuam where he contested a two runner contest against a mare called Well The Now Then. Best Mate made all and quickened nicely off a steady pace to score by eight lengths. Assessment at this stage was difficult as neither runner subsequently ran that season but Well Then Now Then turned out to be a decent mare in her own right while Best Mate conquered the best that Steeplechasing had to offer. Although determining how good he would be was difficult on paper following his Pointing success, anyone listening to rider Tony Costello or his maestro father Tom after the race saying that he was one of the best that they had ever had through their hands should not have been surprised at the heights he has hit since winning his point.
Having won his only two starts in the previous season Best Mate was twice beaten on his first two runs in the 99/00 season but those defeats came at the hands of the high class Monsignor and in the Supreme Novices Hurdle behind Sausalito Bay where he did not enjoy the best of runs. Before going on to take an Aintree hurdle beating Copeland. Going into this 00/01 season there were many looking forward to seeing him take to the larger obstacles where connections maintained his best was to be seen.
Sure enough he began successfully at Exeter beating Bindaree before two Graded successes followed. On the 12th November in Cheltenham over 2m he took the Independent Novices Chase beating Fatehalkhair and Dusk Duel when justifying his 8/13f price. He then went to Sandown on February 3rd where he took a Grade 1 Novices Chase beating Crocadee and fellow pointer Hannigans Lodger. He subsequently bypassed Cheltenham for Aintree where he met with defeat at the hands of a most impressive Barton. Nonetheless there were few more exciting chasers leaving the Novice ranks at the end of the 00/01 season.
BALLINCLAY KING 1994 g by Asir – Clonroche Artic – (Pauper)
Martell Maghull Novices Chase Gr.1 Aintree 2 miles
Went off favourite for his only start in points in 1998 in a slowly run four year old Maiden. The same race as Nick Dundee had won two years previously. He went down by only three lengths but made a good enough impression to suggest bigger and better things were to come. By the beginning of the 00/01 season he had already taken four races including beating Shotgun Willy on his debut on the park in a bumper. Successes at Wetherby and Ayr brought the Ferdy Murphy trained gelding to Aintree on April 7th. Under Adrian Maguire the pair saw off Whitenzo by a neck to score his first Grade One victory and become one of five former pointers to do so in the 00/01 season.
DAVIDS LAD 1995 g by Yashgan – Cool Nora (Lafontaine)
Appliances Chase Gr.2 Fairyhouse 2 ½ miles
Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National Chase Gr.1 3m5f
E.B.F. Chase Gr.3 Navan 3 miles
Davids Lad ran twice in points as a four year old in 1998. He pulled up on his debut at Summerhill before finishing third at Crumlin behind the decent Prominent Profile.
He duly took time to find his way on the course but by the beginning of the 00/01 season he had four victories to his credit. Early season wins at Navan and Cheltenham followed. His next success had to wait three runs for a Grade 2 Chase at Fairyhouse beating Promalee by twenty lengths under Timmy Murphy.
Grade One success followed within a fortnight when under one of the finest rides ever seen in the race Timmy Murphy steered the Tony Martin trained gelding to victory in the Powers Gold Label Grand National beating Rathbawn Prince with fellow pointers Sheltering 3rd and Foxchapel King 6th both faring well. Not finished yet he then went to Navan where a Grade 3 success followed where he easily accounted for the four runner field by seven lengths to round off a highly successful season.
FLORIDA PEARL 1992 g Florida Son – Ice Pearl (Flatbush)
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Chase Gr.1 Leopardstown 3 miles
On the 3rd March 1996 Florida Pearl made his debut in a 9 runner four year old Maiden at Lismore on good ground under Tony Costello. Sent off an even money favourite he duly saw off his rivals by five lengths in comfortable fashion before being acquired to race under the care of Willie Mullins.
At the beginning of the 00/01 season Florida Pearl was a household name but had a frustrating season by his standards. Nine victories were achieved entering the season but he only added one this season. However he was placed behind Native Upmanship(hd), Looks Like Trouble (21l) , First Gold (10l) and Moscow Express(6l) on his only other outings always in top class company. Nonetheless there is no knocking his overall record and he did win a Grade One Chase for his only success. Sent off favourite for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup the race was disappointing from the early fall of Nick Dundee but Florida Pearl still saw off Alexander Banquet and Dorans Pride to score under Richard Johnson.
GARRUTH 1994 g by Good Thyne – Lady Sipash (Erins Hope)
ILJ is fifth Novices Hurdle Gr.2 3miles Cheltenham
Martell Sefton Novices Hurdle Gr.1 Aintree 3 miles
Had run on the track five times and been placed twice before reverting to points. He was third in a decent Ballon contest before finishing runner up in a well above average Adjacent Maiden behind The Broken Man with Billy The Snake third. He then fell at Naas when likely to be involved although probably held. Following that season he went to the Doncaster Sales where he made £32,000. He only ran four more times before the beginning of the 00/01 season and took a Listowel bumper. He then went to England for the 00/01 season where he scored five times. Including a Grade one Contest.
On the 9th December he took a Cheltenham Novice Hurdle from a five horse field that included pointers Gola Cher(2nd) and Wishbone(4th). Consistent throughout the season he found Grade one success in the Martell Sefton Novices Chase at Aintree over 3m and off a strong pace he stayed on best to score by a distance decimating a thirteen runner field. In the 00/01 season he won five times and was placed on his other four starts behind Valley Henry among others. His only other engagement this season made headlines when he made £175,000stg at Doncaster on 24th May 2001
BINDAREE 1994 g by Roselier(FR) –Flowing Tide (Main Reef)
Courage Best Bitter Novices Chase Gr.2 2m3f Chepstow
Bindaree had to face the starter on four occasions before registering a maiden victory in points. Finishing second to two decent sorts on his opening two runs including the ill fated Southsea Native he then most uncharacteristically ran out before finally putting his head in front at Loughbrickland on 20th March 1999. He won by fifteen lengths under Kevin Ross having gone off odds on favourite and was subsequently sold to race in England.
From a sales record point of view he was a ‘progressive’ sort. In February 1995 as a yearling he made £2000 at Tattersalls while a few years later at Goffs he was sold for £20,000. Although he was sold privately following his point to point success one can only assume it progressed upon a similar scale to before.
Bindaree had achieved success four times before the 00/01 season began. Having opened this season with a success at Perth he came up against the mighty Best Mate at Exeter. Winning ways were quickly restored however when he took the Grade 2 Novice Chase at Chepstow beating Nearly A Score by twelve lengths under Carl Llewellyn. Before the season was over he added a 3m Chase at Ascot on January 13th
BOB TREACY 1989 g by Over The River(FR) – Banish Fortune(Master Owen)
Cuisine de France Thystes Chase Gowran Park Gr.2 3 miles
Two runs in ’94 saw him finish third on the second of them in a Wexford Maiden. However in 1995 he only turned out once and pulled up at Ballynoe. He then was off the track before returning in 1997 an improved sort. He began with a maiden victory at Lisgoold before doubling up at Dungarvan in a decent Winners contest beating Lucky Town. He then took to Hunter Chasing where he took an eighteen runner Clonmel event under Tony Costello.
Following a third at Fairyhouse behind the Champion Stay In Touch he got back to winning ways at Gowran. He pulled up on his only outing in a hunter chase in 1998. By the start of the 00/01 season he had added a further five victories. Only beaten ten lengths at Navan behind Nick Dundee suggested better was to come and it duly did when he took a Gowran 3m chase in January and returned for the prestigious Thyestes Chase in February. This was a Point to Point dominated contest with No Problem(2nd), Delgany Royal (3rd), Call Me Dara(4th) and Northern Sound(6th) all faring well. Bob Treacy didn’t turn out again this season finishing on a high note with his Grade 2 win.
BOSS DOYLE 1992 g by Lapierre – Prolific Shot (Northern Guest(USA))
John Smith’s Hurdle Gr.2 3m1f Wetherby
Boss Doyle ran twice in points in 1996. He began at Cloyne where he came to grief five out when still travelling well. Amends were made on his only other outing however at Clonmel when he came alone clear of the field under Tom Cloke. Although left clear when in front three out he came home 15l & a distance ahead of his rivals which signalled the end of his pointing career as the track beckoned. John Halley who both bred him and produced him for his points subsequently sold him to Mouse Morris who acts as starter at the Clonmel point to point and would have got a good look at this fellow even before the race subsequently acquired him for Mrs A.M Daly.
Before the 00/01 season Boss Doyle had won ten races and was placed ten times from 26 runs. His only success of this season came on his first outing at Wetherby where he took the John Smiths Hurdle(Grade 2) over 3m1f beating Earthmover digging deep to get up in a tight tussle under Charlie Swan. Although no more success followed this season he acquitted himself admirable finishing second to Deeno’s Beeno and Limestone Lad along the way.
CALL ME DARA 1993 m by Arapahos –Dara’s Last (March Parade)
paddypower.com Chase Gr.2 3 miles Leopardstown
Call Me Dara showed a little promise from two starts in ’98 before getting off the mark at the second time of asking in ’99 in a Dungarvan maiden. Incidentally The Bunny Boiler had taken the race before this mare opened her account. She subsequently finished third in a well above average winners contest at Fermoy before her final outing at Dromahane in early March. Here she held every chance before coming to grief at the last and the horse to benefit from her fall being left clear was none other than Monty’s Pass.
Trainer Robert Tyner appears to appreciate what a true National Hunt Mare she is having never raced over anything other than larger obstacles. She had won twice before the 00/01 season and following a couple of placed efforts she went to post for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown an unfancied 33/1 shot.
Nonethelss the testing conditions and her 9st 4lbs combined to see her fend off her 22 rivals to score by six lengths to collect the substantial pot under Niall Mulholland. It was a quality field she beat including Bobbyjo, Davids Lad, Promalee and More Than A Stroll but the seven year old mare was equal to the challenge of the stamina test that suited her. In fact she has never raced over less than 2m 4f.
DIRECT ACCESS 1995 g by Roselier(FR) – Spanish Flame (Spanish Place)
EBF National Hunt Novices Handicap Hurdle Gr.3 Sandown Park 2 ½ miles
Direct Access had only two outings in points before progressing to the park and came up against a decent maiden on his debut. Fourth behind Truckers Tavern at Maralin in early March he didn’t waste much time in turning out again at Templepatrick under Warren Ewing to score his maiden when well fancied from eight’s to two’s. Having shown enough he was duly Park bound. He was obviously a decent sort in the making from an early stage as he made £7,800Ir as a foal at Tattersalls in 1995 while when retuned as a three year old in ’98 the son of Roselier was knocked down for £26,000Ir again at Tattersalls this time at The Derby Sale.
His progression to the park made a big impact. In the 00/01 season where he made his debut he ran four times winning all four by a combined distance of thirty lengths for trainer Len Lungo. Twice winning at Ayr and once at Kelso saw him go to Sandown for the Grade 3 Novices Hurdle. Fifteen went to post for the 2m 4f event on testing ground but he outstayed and outbattled his rivals to score by half a length under regular rider Tony Dobbin. This was his final outing for the season so he left the 00/01 season a most exciting prospect with an immaculate record.
FUNCTION DREAM 1992 m by Strong Gale – Rare Dream (Pollerton)
Castleford Chase Gr.2 2miles Wetherby
Victor Chandler Chase Gr.2 Ascot 2 miles
Mitsubishi Shogun Game Spirit Chase Gr.2 Newbury 2m1f
Function Dream had a short but useful pointing career. She finished third on her debut on February 23rd at Kildorrey before turning out on the 4th May at Dromahane. Although supported somewhat she was available around the 6/1 mark at the off and duly obliged in a seventeen runner contest.
She took a little time to come into her own on the track. Following six unsuccessful outings she duly won three on the trot over fences. Two more success followed before the 00/01 season where significantly she joined Mary Reveley. Having won up to three miles she was about to take on the best over 2m. She began with a Uttoxeter success under Anthony Ross over 2m 5f before disappointing at Wetherby. After that however she ran up a most impressive five victories. On the 26th December 2000 she took the Castleford Chase(Grade 2) at Wetherby over 2m and saw off Celibate and Direct Route in doing so.
In January she went on to take the prestigious Victor Chandler Chase(Grade 2) at Ascot beating Cenkos Exit Swinger and Get Real among others. Although her next success was not a Graded contest it was one of her finest efforts beating Flagship Uberalles by seventeen lengths at Newbury. Although going slightly off the boil at the end of the season she is undoubtedly one of the classiest mares to emerge from pointing in recent times. Has never really been given the credit she deserves for taking on the best in the exciting two mile category and seeing off all challengers for her purple patch in the 00/01 season.
LYREEN WONDER 1993 g by Derrylin – Coole Pilate (Celtic Cone)
Pierce Group Troytown Chase Gr.2 3 miles Navan
Arthur Moore paid £7,000Ir for Lyreen Wonder as a yearling at Tattersalls in 1994.
A drifter in the market on his only outing at Maralin in March 1998 he formed the third leg of a Tony Martin four timer. He was a comfortable scorer of a fourteen runner maiden in a fair time. This was his only outing between the flags.
By the 00/01 season he had four victories to his name and his trainer obviously held him in high regard as he pitched him against the best. He beat Cockney Lad on his final start the previous season in a Cork Chase but had also been on the floor five times by now. Barry Cash had been handed the mount in Cork and the pair were to strike up a good relationship.
His Graded success came on his seasonal reappearance at Navan in the prestigious Troytown Chase (Grade 2) over 3m. Nine went to post including Grand National winner Bobbyjo but it was stable companion More Than A Stroll who provided the danger getting to with four lengths. He only ran on three other occasions throughout the season with a best effort of s runner up at Thurles to the useful Slaney Native.
MERRY PEOPLE 1988 g by Lafontaine – Merry Madness (Raise You Ten)
Denny Gold Medal Chase-Gr.3- 2 ½ miles Tralee
Merry People won his maiden in points at the fourth time of asking in 1993.
He duly went on to be a most consistent and reliable campaigner providing his connections with much enjoyment along the way. By the 00/01 season he had run an astonishing 72 times, won eleven and been placed twenty one times carrying sixteen different riders in the process. A near perfect jumper he only hit the ground twice but most famously when giving Garett Cotter a dream ride in the 2000 Grand National behind Papillon.
Although in the twilight of his career he still managed a Graded victory in the 00/01 season when he beat Nicholls Cross by three lengths at Tralee in the Denny Gold Medal Chase over 2m 4f for trainer and former leading pointing rider John Queally. He again came to grief in the National this season but so did most as Red Marauder came home almost alone in the carnage. He is a credit to all related to him and it is with a horse like this in mind that many go to the sales because there can be few horses who have provided so much enjoyment to connections in their career
NORTHERN SOUND 1993 m Montelimar (USA)– Castle Felda (Le Moss)
Grand National Trial Chase Gr.3 Fairyhouse 3m1f
Northern Sound in her pointing career was very much mixed bag, quirky on her day but impressive when she took to it. In 1998 she took a ten runner Kill Maiden justifying favouritism having had a few placed efforts previously. She also refused to start in two Hunter Chases in ’98 however. In ’99 after three runs she suddenly hit form and could do no wrong. On the 11th April she took a nine runner Tallanstown Mares Open. A week later she took a similar contest at Tipperary this time beating an eighteen runner field by eight lengths. The following week at Thurles she took another Mares Open with only four runners but a fair contest nonetheless. On the 7th May on her fourth outing within a month she took a Dundalk Hunter Chase by just over three lengths. Two more victories were to follow on the track before the 00/01 season got underway.
She took her first success at the season on the 1st January at Fairyhouse by six lengths over 3m 1f. Two runs later on the 11th February she was back to the same venue where she ran in the Grade 3 Grand National trial again over 3m 1f. Showing a liking for the course she beat her thirteen rivals to score by two and a half lengths. It was a successful race for Irish Point to Point mares with Call Me Dara filling the runner up spot also.
OVER THE FURZE 1993 g Over The River(Fr) – Furry Gran (Furry Glen)
William Neville & Sons Chase Gr.3 Leopardstown 3 miles
Over The Furze pulled up on his debut at Carrigtwohill on 1st February 1998 but he obviously benefited from the experience as he scored most impressively on his only other outing only three weeks later at Kildorrey. A smooth victory under J.P.Brennan by eight lengths from Lord A Dee and within a month he was switched to the park.
By 00/01 he had taken two Clonmel hurdle races. In November / December 2000 he hit a good run of form with three victories at Clonmel, Navan and Leopardstown. It was the latter that saw him join the graded winners when he saw off a four runner William Neville and Sons Novice Chase(Grade 3) field to beat Rose Of Inchiquin and Artic Copper by three lengths and ten lengths. He is a decent staying chaser in handicap company.
THE DELL 1993 b g by Denel - Rocks Rose (Little Buskins)
Smirnoff Chase L. 2m6f Galway
At Tattersalls in 1996 The Dell was sold for £3,000Ir and returned to the following Derby Sale as a four year old where Joe Crowley acquired him for £8,600Ir.
He only competed in point but made it count when taking a very decent Naas contest by 1/2l. Wotsitooya was back in third. Pat Colville was on board that day and he was quickly sent to the park where he displayed his talent.
By 00/01 season he had run ten times with three wins, six seconds and a third his very impressive haul.
He opened this season successfully with a Graded victory in the Smirnoff Chase at Galway over 2m 6f. This was very mush a pointers dominated race. Frostbitten(2nd), Monty’s Pass(3rd), Johnstheman(4th)& Scallybuck(6th). The Dell however came out on top under Ruby Walsh showing himself to be a very decent sort.
VALLEY HENRY 1995 g by Step Together – Pineway VII
Persian War Novices Hurdle Gr.2 2 ½ miles Chepstow
Ran once in 1999 in Cloyne when finishing seventh. Being a big sort was then put away and reappeared on the opening day of the 2000 season in a decent maiden finishing second to Patsy Murphy. He then on the 30th January took a sixteen runner event at Carrigtwohill in a fair time. As expected he joined the Paul Nicholls yard for owner Paul Barber having already taken a Leopardstown bumper.
His initial outing of the 00/01 season was a Grade 2 Hurdle at Chepstow where he beat Risk Assessor and fellow pointer Garruth by five lengths and a length under Joe Tizzard. He won again that season on his next outing at Wincanton where he beat Coastguard by 22l. Having finished placed on his other outings and a little disappointing he still looked a horse likely to benefit from a progression to the larger obstacles
