A - Z of the 2006 - 07 Season

2006 - 07 Point-to-Point Season

30^th September Taylorstown Wilson Dennison and Derek O’Connor combine for the opening race of the season when Openditch easily takes the 4yo Maiden. Dennison will go on to own 15 winners this season and O’Connor partners 13 of them all in the North. Openditch went on to win a bumper by 18l first time out in England for Henrietta Knight

7^th October Loughbrickland Arctic Copper takes the Open Lightweight. Last years six times winner goes on to take the maximum yet again this season

Milton Des Bieffes takes the 6yo Maiden and goes on to score three on the track in December/January when acquired by Nick Schutts

Headsontheground & J T McNamara at Ballinrobe

8^th October Ballinrobe Subsequent Cheltenham winner Heads on the Ground takes the Open Lightweight and in March took the Sporting Index Chase.

 
There was controversy at Toomebridge between Stormy Tribunal and Suplaot

14^th October Toomebridge Supalot beats Stormy Tribunal in the Open Lightweight but the Stewards reverse the result following an objection on the day. However on appeal to the Turf Club at a later date Supalot is reinstated as the winner

22^nd October Tattersalls Nina Carberry takes the 4yo Maiden on her fathers Now You Have It on her first ride of the season. What is remarkable is after three rides at the end of the season she remains with her 100% record intact having returned 3 winners.

 
Paul Nicholls was quick to snap up Breedsbreeze

22^nd October Dromahane Breedsbreeze takes the 4yo Maiden and is quickly snapped up by Paul Nicholls where he puts in two promising runs for the future.

4^th November Coolkip A new course for the Golden Vales is a happy hunting ground for John Thomas McNamara who rides a four timer and on the second day 4yo Quws Law takes the maiden and goes on to win a bumper first time out for Lucinda Russell

12^th November Templemore Cooldine takes the 4yo Maiden and goes on to win a bumper first time out for Willie Mullins and Archie O’Leary

18^th November Kirkistown Younger maidens were decent contests with multiple winner Agus A Vic taking the geldings maiden and subsequent bumper runner up Mary Pat comes home clear in the mares equivalent.

 
Captain Moonlight wins the Castletown Open with National Winner Silver Birch back in third

19^th November Castletown-Geoghegan Silver Birch takes third spot in the Open Lightweight and has his first run for Gordon Elliott and the season will go on to see the pair take the Aintree Grand National in April

25^th November Boulta Another successful two day fixture at the Waterford venue and subsequent bumper winner Bluesea Cracker takes the opening contest while another bumper winner Arctic Tour takes the 6yo Geldings Maiden

26^th December Down Royal General Striker and Agus A Vic compete a high class Hunters Chase with the former coming out on top. Unfortunately injury rules him out of any further runs this season

 
Bobbawn was most impressive at Limerick

29^th December Limerick Bobbawn looks highly impressive taking the Hunter Chase but he too is ruled out of running again through injury.

 
Ned Kelly and Arctic Times got 2007 off to a great start

1^st January Dromahane –Posponed by one day from New Years Eve this fixture now sees all the four year olds who carried 11st 7lbs actually running as 5yos owing to the turn of the year. Arctic Times takes his first race and will go on to win six for the third time in a row for Trevor Hemmings and Eugene O’Sullivan after getting the better of pointing debutante Ned Kelly.

Also a first winner for Sue Ann McManus who sees her colours carried to victory aboard Moscow Maui for Enda Bolger and John Thomas McNamara

7^th January Lisgoold Atrocious conditions for the Lisgoold meeting sees one finisher in the final contest which took 7mins & 33secs

14^th January Askeaton Last seasons top 4yo Nebeltau looks impressive taking the opening Winners races and Charlie Lenihan makes his only seasonal outing a successful one in winning the Open

 
Emmett Mullins partners his first winner aboard Alphazar

14^th January Aghabullogue Emmett Mullins partners his first winner aboard Alphazar for his father George

Paul Cashman hits treble form at Killeagh

21^st January Killeagh Paul Cashman rides a treble and goes on to take the Senior Riders title.

21^st January Kilfeacle Ned Kelly takes the Open under Kevin Power

 
Whyso Mayo looks impressive at Thurles

23^rd January Thurles Reigning Champion Hunter Chaser Whyso Mayo returns to action in most impressive fashion with a 5l victory over Oscar India

 
Saddlers Brook was impressive at Tyrella and another winner for Nina Carberry
 

27^th January Tyrella Noel Meade has a rare runner in points and Saddlers Brook proves successful under Nina Carberry and goes on to finish second to Whyso Mayo at Leopardstown next time

28^th January Dungarvan Tamadot and Minella Boys look two exciting prospects in the opening two races.

 
Its Like That is part of a J T McNamara four timer

28^th January Nenagh Another four timer for John Thomas McNamara who finishes it off aboard Its Like That for J P McManus and he goes on to finish second in the Champion Hunters Chase at Punchestown. This was the biggest meeting of the season in terms of number of runners

4^th February Carrigtowhill Indifference Curve looks most impressive under Damian Murphy in what looked a high class maiden which produces plenty of winners including Cryptic and The Sherriff.

 
Quaddick Lake takes the opening 4yo Maiden of the season

11^th February Belharbour A high class days racing. Quaddick Lake looks above average in the first four year old maiden of the season and a first points win for sire Blueprint. Gonebeyondrecall takes third after a jumping error took from his chance but goes on to win most impressively the Landrover Bumper and the 5yo Maiden goes to subsequent Gigginstown bumper winner One Cool Guy.

18^th February Knockanard Jimmy Mangan sees his son Paddy take his first winner aboard Ashstorm in the Open

 
Pleasereleaseme was part of a Punchestown 4 timer for Jamie Codd

18^th February Punchestown Ned Kelly takes the Novice riders Open under Nadine Forde. Apt Approach looks a top class 4yo for Eddie Hales before falling at the last.

Jamie Codd’s title challenge takes shape with a four timer

Expensive Doncaster Purchase Professor Higgins was a 4yo maiden winner at the new course at Cregg

18^th February Cregg Professor Higgins takes the 4yo Maiden and goes on to make 110,000 at Doncaster when knocked down to Howard Johnson.

Imperial Storm completes a first treble for Claire MacMahon

24^th February Farmaclaffey A Half brother to Joacci – Tiveny Tyne takes the geldings maiden while Clare MacMahon moves clear in the ladies title with her first ever treble.

25^th February Bennettsbridge A decent days racing where Scavenger looks best in the Gigginstown House colours and goes on to win a bumper next time

4^th March The Pigeons Another impressive Gigginstown winner where subsequent Joseph O’Reilly winner Beautiful Sound wins the maiden for Ted Walsh and Mark O’Hare.

 
Expensive Cheltenham purchase Viking Rebel (left) won at Horse & Jockey

11^th March Horse & Jockey Some very useful looking winners on a miserable afternoon with Viking Rebel standing out in the geldings maiden and going on to make 120,000 at the Cheltenham Sale

Drombeag takes the Foxhunters

16^th March Chetlenham Irish Champion Hunter Chaser Whyso Mayo gives best to Drombeag by half a length in the Foxhunters with jumping errors blamed for his defeat

 
Conditions forced an abandonement at Oldcatle

18^th March Oldcastle A mixture of snow and sunshine at the Meath venue where Aboo Hom sires the 4yo winner for the second year.  Conditions force the last race to be abandoned.

 
Shouldertoshoulder was one of many exciting young horses Gigginstown produced in March

18^th March Belclare The 4yo Maiden famous for producing Best Mate produces yet another impressive Gigginstown horse in Shouldertoshoulder for Tom Taaffe and Pat Collins

18^th March Ballyraggett Terrible conditions see the last race go to the aptly named and very fortunate Willibenefit who was a distant third when the first two fell at the last and duly won in a time of 8mins 16secs!

19^th March Gowran Park Fairyhouse Hunters Chase winner Don’t Be Daft takes the Tetretema Chase at the expense of Beachcomber Bay

25^th March Lingstown A four timer for local trainer Denis Murphy with The Model Rebel, Sargant Mallarkey, Indian Gun & Naomh Eanna all coming up good.

25^th March Durrow former flat hope and New Zealand eventer Bali Bay takes the opener for Andrew Duff and Sneezy Foster.

 
Joe Maguire looked decent at Templemore

1^st April Templemore Two high class looking four year olds in Polamalu and Joe Maguire while Melon Delta takes the older maiden and wins a bumper next time at Downpatrick for John Hanlon

1^st April Ballynoe Shelleyjo springs a surprise in the Mares Final winning at 12/1 under in form rider Mikey O’Connor. This is also the only 12 race card of the season

1^st April Castletown-Geoghegan Chris Cully rides his first ever treble

 
Jamie Codd and Dick Naylor look assured of a win at the last but stumble before the line to allow Derek O'Connor to score the opening leg of his treble and the title race turns

7^th April Loughbrickland The title race begins to turn and Derek O’Connor gains the initiative. Signs were obvious from the opening race where Jamie Codd looks set for success aboard Dick Naylor in the 4yo Maiden only to stumble yards from the line and O’Connor is there to capitalise aboard Andytown and goes on to ride three winners.

8^th April Curraghmore A new course for the Waterford hunt and a decent opening race winner in Cool Operator for Timmy Hyde.

9^th April Toomebridge Bowfinger takes the 4yo Maiden and goes on to make 72,000 at Doncaster

 
Unbeaten in 3 pt pt rides Nina Carberry takes the Gigginstown bumper

9^th April Fairyhouse One Cool Guy takes the Gigginstown Bumper in good style under Nina Carberry.

 
Beautiful Sound takes the Joseph O'Reilly

10^th April Fairyhouse Ted Walsh and Gigginstown House team up with Beautiful Sound to take the Joseph O’Reilly under Ross O’Sullivan.

11^th April Inch Killultagh Thunder is hitting form as Adrian Maguires horses are firing and wins his second Open of the season

 
6 times scorer Arctic Copper is one of only 30 runners at Maralin

14^th April Maralin Only 30 runners for the day at Maralin on firm ground where the highlight of the day was the Grand National midway through racing watching former pointer Silver Birch and Gordon Elliott post their biggest success. The meeting was not short on controversy however as rider Stephen Clements is suspended for five days for dropping his hands and losing the opening hunt race on the line.

 
Top Doncaster lot Prince Car takes the 4yo Maiden under top Novice Jack Doyle

15^th April Dromahane A four runner four year old maiden goes to Prince Car under Jack Doyle who is putting in a big effort for the Novice Riders title. Prince Car is subsequently sold through Doncaster for 125,000 to Howard Johnson

22^nd April Summerhill Hunters Ploy takes the geldings maiden and puts Scarvagh owner Alfie Buller on top of the Breeders title for the season

24^th April Punchestown Young Andrew Kinirons and Red Setter take the Ladies Cup over the banks in the Colours of his father Edward.

 
2002 Champion Hunter Joe Blake takes the Champion Hunter Chase

25^th April Punchestown Joe Blake at the age of 12 takes the Champion Hunter Chase for Ian Ferguson and Ronnie Bartlett under new rider Derek O’Connor.

 
Mark O'Hare rides 6 winners on the one card at Newry

28^th April Taylorstown Mark O’Hare produces arguably the seasons highlight when riding six winner on the card. Not achieved since 1991 when Adrian Maguire achieved the feat he scored aboard Dree Hill, Northern View, Raleagh Hall, Raleagh Choice, Keeverfield and Stormy Bob

29^th April Ballybunion Adrian Maguire continues his good run and produces a very impressive looking son of Zaffaran in Let Yourself Go

 
Present Venture takes the p2p.ie Bumper

3^rd May Tipperary Roscommon Maiden winner Present Venture springs an upset for Cecil Ross and Chris Cully when taking the p2p.ie Mares Bumper

4^th May Necarne Rathmullen takes the opening 4yo Maiden for Wilson Dennison and Derek O’Connor at this two day fixture. Clare MacMahon loses out on the chance to beat Ann Ferris record of 23 winners by a lady rider in a season when three odds on shots are beaten at the fixture.

13^th May Ballindenisk Arctic Times wins his sixth point of the season and assists Richie McLernon to keep up his fight towards the Novice riders title.

25^th May Loughanmore Mark O’Hare and Derek O’Connor enter the meeting level for the Northern title and take the first two winners but O’Connor rides a treble putting him two in front with one day left.

 
Letusbefraink comes home alone at Loughanmore but is not enough for Mark O'Hare in the northern title

26^th May Loughanmore With Derek O’Connor at Stratford where he successfully steers Joe Blake Mark O’Hare knows he needs two winners to divide the Northern title. The opening race goes his way in farcical fashion when the two runner contest sees Risky Revenue fall at the first, the second and finally refuse at the fourth. O’Hare goes on to ride three second and does not gain the winner he needs however.

2^nd June Kinsale The penultimate day of the Southern season is postponed to Bank Holiday Monday owing to low fog on the course

3^rd June Ballingarry Richie McLernon rides one winner to stay in touch with Jack Doyle for the Novice Title

4^th June Kinsale Jack Doyle rides a double and wins the Novice title by three winners

4^th June Ballingarry Derek O’Connor rides a double and finishes the season as record holder for the fourth successive time with another new record of 75.