WITH her first two runners of the new point-to-point season, Caroline McCaldin trained the first two home in the Wilsons Auctions six-year-old and upwards maiden at Moira on Saturday, both 2015 bay geldings running in the colours of her husband Alan.

The winner by a length, the French-bred Ballingarry gelding Faith Loving, who was having his first start since finishing third on his debut at Toomebridge in early October 2019, was ridden by Mikey Sweeney and led up by event rider Robyn McCluskey, while the second-placed Milan gelding Dukehill was partnered by Johnny Berry and led up by former amateur Trevor Woodside.

The two horses were photographed together when connections were joined by Caroline’s father Wilson Dennison, her nephews William and Harry Mackie and Tom McMahon who does much of the schooling at McCaldin’s Dromara yard.

Second

On his seasonal bow, David Christie also had two runners at the Iveagh Hunt meeting and both of his finished second, Dylrow in the Northern Excavators novice riders’ open and Alice O’Byrne in the Alexander Mills mares’ winners of two.

At Downpatrick the previous afternoon, the Derrylin trainer saddled, and led up, Kieran Mahon’s Ask The Leader to win the M.B. McGrady & Co Chartered Accountants Handicap Hurdle.

The five-year-old Ask mare, whose only other career success was also over hurdles at the same track at the end of August, scored by 12 lengths and one and three-quarter lengths from the Neil McCluskey-trained Monoxide and the Keith Watson-trained Carried.

Ask The Leader was ridden by Jack Foley who went on to complete a treble on the Willie Mullins-trained Gelee Blanche in the C. Russell Auto Sales Beginners Chase and the Eugene O’Sullivan-trained Carnet De Stage in the concluding Randox Health Handicap Chase.

Sponsored

On this final day of the Downpatrick season, Randox also sponsored the first three races on the card – all hurdles – two of which were won by Gordon Elliott-trained runners while Co Sligo-based Mark McNiff saddled John Doyle’s Fassbender to land the two-mile, two-furlong handicap hurdle.

The near two-and-three-quarter-mile maiden hurdle, won by the James Barcoe-trained Kingston Retreat, was sponsored by another staunch Downpatrick supporter, the INH Stallion Owners/European Breeders Fund.

Let’s hope that all Covid restrictions have been lifted by the time the 2022 season commences at Downpatrick on Sunday, March 20th when the historic Randox Ulster National Handicap Chase will be the feature race on the card.

Later last Friday, Caledon’s Andy Oliver sent out the Ronan Whelan-ridden Pin Your Hopes to win the concluding mile-and-a-half handicap at Dundalk.

The four-year-old Rock Of Gibraltar gelding was declared for a similar race at Leopardstown today and holds an entry in the upcoming Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale at Tattersalls Newmarket where he is catalogued as Lot 1005.

On Sunday, Banbridge trainer Sarah Dawson engaged the services of record-breaking jockey Colin Keane for her runner, Pretty Boy Floyd, in the five-furlong handicap at the Curragh and the six-year-old Footstepsinthesand gelding made all to score by one and a quarter lengths in the colours of Gerry McManus.

Also at the Curragh, and well-covered on page 56, Armagh’s Kian ‘Tubs’ McNally won the 12.2hh pony race on Where It Began. Among the large crowd who greeted the 11-year-old at the No 1 spot was his mother, and Castle Leslie Riding Club member, Sheena Kerr McNally who was absolutely delighted with the win.

Perfection

“Any one of those wee boys could’ve won the race but Kian had his wee game plan in his head, he rode it to perfection and it all worked out for him,” said the young rider’s very proud mother.

“I’ve been at nearly all his races this year and at the expense of my own horse Pegasus (aka Bob The Cob).

“We had qualified for the amateur metre final at Balmoral Show but I had to pull out because Kian was racing on the Sunday in Galway and I wouldn’t miss him racing for the world.

“My riding really has taken a bit of a back seat. I was jumping in Cavan last week and got catapulted into an oxer! It’s become quite apparent that Bob is not a fan of jumping indoors in Cavan so I think we will stick to the outdoor jumping.

“Anyway, Kian is also doing the inter-schools’ show jumping in The Meadows so it’s been hard to me to get anything done lately!”

A CELEBRATION of the life of former amateur rider and trainer, Alex Murdoch, who sadly died last Saturday, was held at Comber Cemetery on Thursday.

A tribute to Alex written by Ron McKnight appears in page 4 but I would just like to send my condolences to his daughter Julia and son Andrew. Alex and his late wife Dorothy were most welcoming to those attending the North Down point-to-points at Mount Alexander and greatly encouraged novice riders and owner/riders.