Curling scoops first HRI Award

Image © Healy Racing

Sam Curling was announced as the winner of the point-to-point category at the HRI Awards, which were held in Dublin’s Mansion House on Monday evening.

The Tipperary handler sent out Wonderwall to become the first Irish-trained winner since 2022 of the St. James’s Place Festival Hunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Having sourced the then eight-year-old from Peter and Mikey Bowen’s stable at a Horse in Training sale on behalf of owner John O’Leary the previous summer, Curling set about preparing the Yeats gelding for a tilt at Cheltenham. 

Wonderwall won consecutive open races at Loughrea and Damma House, before being kept fresh for the festival, returning from a four-month absence to defeat Its On The Line by a neck in the hands of Rob James. 

Domestically, Curling also enjoyed his most successful season between the flags, saddling 34 winners, a momentum that he has continued into the current campaign.

The success of Shake The Bag at Ballycrystal brought the tally for his Skehanagh Stables to 15 for the autumn, as he sits at the top of the handlers' leaderboard, eight winners clear of the chasing pack.

Also nominated within the point-to-point category were fellow handlers Colin Bowe, David Christie, Pat Doyle, and Richie Keeffe, alongside champion rider Barry O’Neill.

The reigning under-21 champion, David Doyle, was nominated in the emerging talent category, an award which went the way of the 17-year-old Nicola Burns, who has ridden over 30 winners on the flat since first breaking onto that scene just over a year ago.


Contribution to the Industry    Rachael Blackmore
Racecourse of the Year    Punchestown Racecourse
Flat Award    Dylan Browne McMonagle
National Hunt Award    Willie Mullins
Flat Achievement Award    Joseph Murphy
National Hunt Achievement Award    Patrick Mullins
Emerging Talent Award    Nicola Burns
Point-to-Point Award    Sam Curling
Ride of the Year Award    Alan O’Sullivan on Filey Bay at Galway
Horse of the Year    Galopin Des Champs / Ethical Diamond