STONEHALL (H) at Cragmore on 15th Feb 2020
First Race: 13:00
Number of Entries: 102
Admission: €10 and free for U16's
Preview: Lite Duties goes in search of the open hat-trick.
Cragmore’s fixture from last Sunday was cancelled due to storm Ciara and has been rescheduled to this Saturday.
This will be the Stonehall hunt’s second year at Cragmore on the Costello’s Family land and it is a terrific track which has been very well received.
Grade 1 winner Death Duty won his four-year-old maiden here in 2015 and provided Derek O’Connor with his 1000th winner between the flags, making him the first point-to-point rider to ever achieve this remarkable milestone.
Tommy Kelly was kind enough to update us on how preparations are going for the weekend.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t go ahead last weekend, so fingers crossed we won’t have the same problem this weekend. The landowner John Costello has looked after the land very well and it is in good condition. The ground at the moment is soft, soft to heavy in places.
“We have a great committee and we receive plenty of help. We are hoping for six good races, as Cragmore has built up a reputation for being a big galloping track. We will have schooling after racing as well.
“There will be the usual food caterers on site along with a hospitality tent that will provide tea, soup, and sandwiches etc. and all donations received will go towards local charities.”
For more information and directions click here.
WARD UNION (S) at Oldtown on 15th Feb 2020
First Race: 12.00
Number of Entries: 98
Admission: €10
Eircode: A45N 803
Preview: Ucello Conti bids to return to the winners enclosure in the Open.
Oldtown’s fixture from last Sunday was cancelled due to storm Ciara and has been rescheduled to this Saturday.
Oldtown has built up a reputation of being a fine galloping track and has produced some top priced four-year-old maiden winners, one of which includes Flemenshill, who was bought for £480,000 following his debut success at the track.
It is with thanks to William Duffy and the Duffy Family that this wonderful facility has been made available to The Ward Union to host this important meeting on the point-to-point calendar.
Leopardstown Dublin Racing Festival Grade 1 winner Asterion Forlonge won his four-year-old maiden at Oldtwon in 2018 by an impressive six lengths and he is one of many smart performers the track has produced.
Sarah Maxwell informed us how things were going for their fixture on Sunday.
“Everything is on track for Saturday, hopefully the weather won’t stop it from going ahead again this weekend. We have a very good entry of 98 and there is a great covering of grass on the track, so hopefully there will be a good turn out on the day.
"We will have two hunt races after racing. We have a flat race and also a jumps race. There will be a perpetual trophy presented to the winners.
"There is a bouncy castle organised and there will also be a lovely organic food stall along with a coffee wagon."
"There will be schooling available after racing from approx. 15.30 - 17.00.”
For more information and directions click here.
AVONDHU (F) at Knockanard on 16th Feb 2020
First Race: 12.30
Number of Entries: 82
Admission: €8
Preview: Sovereign Gold bids to record back-to-back victories.
The Avondhu Foxhound hosts their annual fixture of Knockanard this Sunday, a longstanding venue for the hunt who having been holding the meeting on this land since 1994.
A stiff test of stamina, the track is situated just outside Fermoy and with an entry of 82 and the Charity race taking place, Sunday should prove a great day out for everybody.
On Thursday we spoke to hunt secretary Donal Barry who updated us on preparations:
“The course is ready for Sunday; we have a great cover of grass. The land is relatively dry in nature and it is the same right-handed layout as usual. We will have our course inspection in the morning.
“There will be a chip van in attendance on the day and we will have our own hospitality tent. Castlelyons GAA club will also organise a tent with refreshments.
“This year we will have the Charity race taking place after racing which should attract a good crowd as there are some big names featuring in it, so we are looking forward to that.”
For more information and directions click here.
NORTH TIPPERARY (F) at Nenagh on 16th Feb 2020
First Race: 13.00
Number of Entries: 78
Admission: €10 and U16's are free
Preview: Staker Wallace seeks to go one better than Naas Hunter Chase.
The First recorded Point-to-Point of the North Tipperary Foxhounds was in Blean, Toomevara in 1908 and afterwards at the old racecourse Lisboney adjacent to our current race meeting. In intervening years it had been back and forth in various locations, Grange and Stereme.
The current county Tipperary track is owned by hunt chairman Peter McCutcheon, whose family have been synonymous with hunting in North Tipperary since the early 1900’s.
Seamus O'Slatara updated us on how preparations are going for the weekend:
“Everything looks good so far for Sunday. The track is in great condition, we have a super covering of grass and we are hoping the storm will stay away.
“We are very pleased with the entry and we will have a couple of catering vans on site along with a hospitality tent which will be run by .
“This year we are holding a kid’s memorial race in aid of Rianna Scanlon after racing. All funds will go towards Epilepsy Ireland and there will be 24 children participating in the race.”
For more information and directions click here.
KILDARE (F) at Punchestown on 16th Feb 2020
First Race: 13:00
Number of Entries: 99
Admission: €10
Preview: The Carrigarostig winner, Rewritetherules, goes in search of a quick double.
The Kildare Hunt continues to host their annual point-to-point meeting at the home of Irish Jump Racing in Punchestown, a long standing tradition which dates back as far as the 1840's.
This meeting has produced some noteworthy graduates over the years including Michael More, Prince Of Pleasure, Beausheram, Deep Bramble and Mr Mulligan.
Hunt secretary Richard Wixted gave us an update on preparations for this weekend’s meeting:
"We have a members’ race scheduled to take place this Sunday after racing. We also have our Farmers Hunt Race which always attracts a good local crowd, so we are looking forward to that.
“The course inspection is due to take place this Friday and everything else is all ready to go for Sunday.
“There will be two caterers on site, a hot drinks and toasted sandwich stand, along with a burger and chip van.”
For more information and directions click here.
