Image © Healy Racing
As the curtain closed on the Eastern region season at Fairyhouse on Sunday, Cleariestown-based rider Barry Stone secured his first regional title finishing with a total of 21 wins, narrowly edging out Rob James, who impressively rode a four-timer on the card.
This is a first point-to-point award for Stone, achieved through a formidable partnership with handlers Jonathan Fogarty and Gary Murphy, who both provided Stone with seven and five winners respectively. Stone also rode winners for Robert Tector, Liam Kenny, John Martin Walsh, Shane Roche, Mark Scallan, Richard O’Keeffe and his uncle Benny Walsh.
Stone started the season strongly, recording doubles at no fewer than five different fixtures. He also rode a notable treble on the card at Lingstown in November when successful in all three four-year-old maidens on the card for Fogarty.
The 25-year-old, who rode his first winner in October 2018, is enjoying the best season of his career with 25 winners so far. The highlight of his year undoubtedly came at the Cheltenham Festival in March, when he partnered the Paul Nolan trained Daily Present to victory in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase.
