Winged Leader moves a step closer to history

Image © Healy Racing

Winged Leader now finds himself on the cusp of a landmark victory, as he brought his tally of victories within the point-to-point sphere to 32 when he claimed the John Thompson and Sons open at Loughanmore on Easter Monday.

Turned out just eight days after notching up his nineth victroy of the campaign in Tattersalls, the 11-year-old once again showed the toughness which has been a mark of his career.

Crossing paths with Ballyphilip for the third time this season in a match race, the pair were all square in their head-to-head entering the race, with Ballyphilip having got the better of the exchanges in their latest encounter at Loughbrickland.

Caroline McCaldin’s seven-year-old had been able to dominate from the front at the Down venue, but Barry O’Neill was determined not to allow that happen in Loughanmore, as he sent David Christie’s charge to the front after jumping the opening fence, and it was a lead that he never relinquished, to triumph by eight and a half lengths in the colours of owners John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane.

“He got a great reception,” Christie said. “There was a huge crowd, and a lot of people came down to the box afterwards to pet him and everything else.

“I think people are just catching on to how difficult a thing he has nearly achieved, and with great respect to the horse that is still one in front of him, it would be great to get there and equal it.

“He is an amazing horse, the horse of a lifetime to be associated with. He is a bit of a character, a tough, tough, horse and the thing that makes him different is that constitutionally, he is so solid.

“He is so hardy, and then his mind is so hardy, so that makes. He had a hard race yesterday, but he was out there this morning with his head up and his chest out, and that has been the secret to him all his lifetime.

That success leaves Winged Leader just one winner shy of equaling Still William’s record, which has stood untouched for 59 years, and the Fermanagh handler is looking at keeping the 11-year-old to home turf for his attempt to match the record.

“I’d imagine Necarne in a fortnight’s time is next,” he added. “I tend to keep him in a rhythm of running him, but he is a tremendous horse in relation to cuts and bangs. Most horses will get them in races no matter what, but he has the most beautiful way of jumping.”