Weekend Outlook | 2nd & 3rd November

South Union (F) at Kinsale on 2nd Nov 2019

First Race: 12.30pm
Number of Entries: 61
Admission: €10

The South Union Hunt, who are well known for their two-day premier racing meeting held on the June bank holiday weekend, will host a meeting for first time in the Autumn which will take place this Saturday at their Kinsale track.

The Grade 1 and Cheltenham Festival victor Holywell heads the list of winning graduates from the Co. Cork venue, which also includes Grade B winner Archie Meade, and Drift Society, a leading timber racing horse in America.

We spoke with Aiden Kearney, hunt secretary for the South Unions to find out how preparations have been going:

“The track passed the Turf Club inspection this morning  (Thursday) and it is in excellent order. There is a good covering of grass and the rain that has fallen over the last few days has produced good ground conditions for us.

“We will have local caterers Barracuda on the day who will provide an array of different foods such as Burgers, potatoes, chilli con carne etc. The catering committee will have a variety of cakes and sandwiches on offer as well as tea and coffee.”


Kilkenny (F) at Damma House on 3rd Nov 2019

First Race: 12.30pm
Number of Entries: 78
Admission: €10

The Kilkenny hunt first introduced point-to-point racing at Damma House in November 2018 and is the latest course they have used in the county following on from the likes of Ballyfacey, Rahelty, Stonecarthy, Wollengrange, Gowran, Brambelstown, Killbline and Grennan. 

Sunday will be the first of the two meetings held at Damma house for the season and they have been rewarded with a healthy entry so they should see a good day’s racing.

James Murphy from the Kilkenny committee commented:

“We are well on schedule for the weekend, everything is up and running. The fences are up and the Turf Club inspection will take place on Friday morning.

“We have had a good bit of rain so the ground is lovely and there’s more rain forecasted for the weekend .
We will have the usual food outlets and Ballycallan Camogie Club are on board to help us out.”

Patrons are advised to take the Clonmel road out of Kilkenny and turn right onto the L2630 road and the point-to-point will be signposted from there.


Stonehall (H) at Moig South on 3rd Nov 2019

First Race: 12.30pm
Number of Entries: 83
Admission: €10

Moig South first appeared on the point-to-point calendar during the spring 2018 season replacing the Stonehalls former track at Toomdeely in Askeaton.

That previous course had a strong reputation of producing good horses, with Irish National winner Rogue Angel, Strong Flow and Noble Thyne among its more notable graduates, and Moig South has gained equal approval from riders and handlers alike.

The winner of the second ever race at the course was the now Grade 1 winner Commander Of Fleet, who also won the valuable Goffs Land Rover Bumper at the Punchestown Festival one month after his Moig South victory for Pat Doyle.

Speaking on Thursday afternoon John O'Shaughnessy explained:

“Preparations are going very well, the weather has been very kind to us, we had a little rain last night and we are expecting more over the weekend. The fences are in place, the committee are working very well together. We hope the weather on the day will be pleasant enough for the people who come.

“Entries are good, we hope the track is in pristine condition. We are holding schooling after racing. Marie Foster will be supplying catering to the hospitality tent for owners, trainers and jockeys and there will also be a chip van on site.”