IN winning the five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Turtulla on Sunday by 13 lengths, Focus Point not only marked himself out as a likely future track winner, but the victory of the Robin Des Champs gelding also encapsulated a remarkable connection between the Swan, Hyde and Purcell families with the Golden Vale Foxhounds that spans a number of generations.

That five-year-old geldings’ maiden held particular significance for local connections given that it was run for the Michael Purcell Memorial Perpetual Trophy, a prize first offered at the Golden Vale’s spring point-to-point in Fairyhill some 17 years ago to honour the hunt’s former master and chairman.