THERE were three northern-bred winners at Limerick’s Christmas meeting starting on Saturday when, in the absence of his trainer, James Dullea, the Brian Hayes-ridden Chalky White landed the extended two-mile, one-furlong handicap chase.

This was a first success over fences for the 2014 Getaway gelding who was bred at his Brentford Farm near Comber by David Mitchell. The grey is the first of three recorded foals out of Ardnavalley who was placed seven times over hurdles.

That 2004 Moscow Society mare, who comes from the family of Wounded Warrior and Sword Of Destiny, is a half-sister to the four-time scorer Tikkanen Express and two other winners. Chalky White’s 2015 half-sister Burnt Ash (by Scorpion) was third in a mares’ maiden at Loughanmore in October for the Stuart Crawford yard.

On Monday, the colours of owners Robcour were carried to victory in the extended two-mile, one-furlong rated novice chase by the Mikey Hamill-ridden Dinny Lacey who had won a Punchestown bumper in February 2019 in the hands of Deckie Lavery.

Trained by James Motherway, this 2014 Presenting gelding was bred by Gareth Metcalfe and is the seventh of nine foals out of the Old Vic mare Prowler, a half-sister to the 10-time winner Sir OJ among others. The best of Prowler’s four other winners to date is the 2008 Westerner gelding Creepy whose four victories include a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham.

At the re-scheduled Limerick fixture on Wednesday, the Ricky Doyle-ridden Wishmoor made all to land the extended two-mile, six-furlong handicap chase despite some sticky jumping. This was a first success for the Winged Love gelding since he joined the Jonny Levins yard in the autumn of 2019.

Wishmoor, who was previously trained for Gigginstown House Stud by Willie Mullins, Mouse Morris and Joseph O’Brien, started his racing career on the northern point-to-point circuit in 2014 when, in the care of Ian Ferguson, he finished third and second in his two starts. He was bred by Alfred Hanna and is the first of eight foals (only one other runner) out of the Presenting mare Presentingatdawn, a half-sister to three winners by Winged Love from the family of Hazy Dawn.

Now retired as a trainer but continuing as a bloodstock agent, Ferguson purchased Stattler, who won the two and a half-mile maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on Tuesday, on behalf of owner Ronnie Bartlett.

One of many winners over the Christmas period for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, the 2015 Stowaway gelding was purchased at Goffs UK’s Spring Store Sale of 2018 for £59,000.

Also on Tuesday, at Newbury, the David Pipe-trained Panic Attack recorded her third career success when winning the opening mares’ handicap hurdle under Tom Scudamore. Bred in Banbridge by John and Margery Adams, the four-year-old Canford Cliffs mare is the second of four recorded foals out of the bumper-winning Galileo mare Tote Corde Meo.

THE 2020/21 point-to-point season in the northern region resumes at Tyrella on Saturday, January 23rd when the East Downs will be holding their solitary meeting of the campaign instead of the usual two.

Point-to-point followers are looking forward to this date, and the hunting community is asking everyone involved in both sports to complete a survey (www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7TSS3PF) and show their support for hunting. This request comes on the back of a proposal from Alliance MLA, John Blair, to use a Private Member’s Bill to ban the hunting of wild mammals with dogs in Northern Ireland.

The Bill, if passed, will also ban trail hunting and effectively outlaw flushing with dogs for pest control, also known as ‘terrier work’. The legislation will reflect the Scottish (Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act in 2002) and Westminster (The Hunting Act 2004, England and Wales) Acts, while addressing what its supporters regard as weaknesses identified in these pieces of legislation.