THE 2024/25 point-to-point season drew to a close last Sunday with the second and final day of the Ormond Foxhounds’ annual fixture at Ballingarry. A large crowd of racegoers was welcomed by hosts, the Cahalan family, who once again provided an ideal setting for the season finale.

One of the standout success stories of the season has been the emergence of 19-year-old rider David Doyle, who capped off a breakthrough campaign in style by riding a double on the card.

The first leg came courtesy of the Pat Doyle-trained Kilrush Lady (10/3 - 7/2), who made all to land the six-year-old mares’ maiden in convincing fashion.

Having set a swift tempo up front, the daughter of Kalanisi quickened clear between the final two fences, and a fluent jump at the last sealed a comfortable success by an ever-increasing 13 lengths from runner-up Craan Rose.

“She deserved that after being placed twice earlier in the season,” Doyle remarked. “She’s owned by a lovely man named John Connolly from Kildare, and he’s been very patient with her. We’ll keep her on the go, and we might have a look at a maiden hurdle with her over the summer.”

Winning return

The Moyne-born rider returned to the winner’s enclosure later in the afternoon when Oldtown To Emly (5/2 - 7/2) delivered a similarly bold front-running performance to land the final race of the day, the seven-year-old and upwards maiden.

Trained and owned by Galway farrier Kevin Heffernan, the Shirocco gelding fenced well throughout and was never headed, eventually making the best of his way home to account for runner-up The Risky Miskies by three lengths.

“He had been running well all season and has been consistent,” Heffernan explained. “His mother, Up The Girls, was a very good point-to-point mare for me - she won three and was placed 11 times. This lad could be a fun horse for England, and he’s for sale now.”

This victory marked Doyle’s 14th and final success of the season, securing him a first under-21 rider’s title.

Making amends

On an afternoon that saw multiple winners benefit from front-running tactics, the six-year-old geldings’ maiden also saw an all-the-way winner when Itsaworkinmaniam (7/4 - 2/1 favourite) made amends for falling while still holding a clear advantage on his only previous start at Turtulla.

He led from flag fall under Eoin Mahon to score for owner and handler John Staunton. The well-supported favourite had to dig deep on the run-in but held on gamely to prevail by a length from Jetovango, with Inyoureyes a further neck back in third.

“I was a little bit concerned about his fitness, having not run since November and taking on horses that have been running all year, but in fairness to him, he toughed it out well,” said the winning Tubber handler.

“He has a nice pedigree and just wants a bit better ground, so we could go to the track with him over the summer.”

THIS year’s renewal of the ladies’ open will live long in the memory of 24-year-old Orla Queally from Dungarvan, Co Waterford, as she partnered her first career winner on only her third attempt aboard the evergreen Pat Coyne (3/1 - 5/2 favourite) to record a memorable family success.

Queally, already a well-established show jumping rider, sent her charge to the front before three out and maintained a comfortable advantage to take the spoils by four and a half lengths from runner-up Heroes Of Renown.

In a true family affair, the 11-year-old grey is owned by his rider’s mother Miriam, trained by her father John, and continues to be a stalwart of the Queally yard, once again rolling back the years to provide another special day for connections.

“He’s the perfect horse for learning on,” the delighted handler explained. “He’ll be there for Orla now, and she can ride him away in these races next season. If he keeps up that kind of form, we’ll have some great fun with him. It’s a day we’ll never forget.”

Family success

The final day of the point-to-point season delivered another heartwarming family success story, this time for 17-year-old Co Meath rider Dara O’Sullivan, who notched up a second career success when partnering his mother Claire O’Connell’s Glenmalure Lady (11/10 - 1/1 favourite) to a half-length victory in the mares’ winner-of-three contest.

Running in the colours of her rider’s father, Paul O’Sullivan, the six-year-old came with her challenge before the last and battled gamely up the run-in, edging out runner-up Kilmore Coral close home to justify favouritism.

Winning handler O’Connell was understandably thrilled with the result. “It’s a real home-grown success, as both horse and jockey are home-bred,” she said.

“It’s a fantastic end to the season for us. We’ve had five point-to-pointers this year - four of them won, and the other was second. This is Glenmalure Lady’s third win of the season, Dara’s second career winner, and his first in our colours.”

THE opening four-year-old geldings’ maiden saw a field of nine runners go to post, with all but two horses bringing some level of form to the contest.

In a race run in driving rain, the Cormac Doyle-trained I Walked The Line (1/1 - 6/4 favourite) took up the running before three out in the hands of Darragh Higgins and quickened clear between the final two fences to record a five-and-a-half-length victory from runner-up Chagga Passion, who stayed on well for second.

Owned by the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership, the son of Walk In The Park is out of an Oscar mare and looks every inch a smart staying chaser in the making.

“He ran off the bend at Bartlemy a fortnight ago and still managed to be third,” explained the Co Wexford handler. “He made amends for that today, and he’ll now go to the May Point-to-Point and HIT sale at Tattersalls on Thursday.”

Horse to Follow

Jetovango (D. W. O’Sullivan) was filling the runner-up spot for the second week in a row in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden after being touched off at Ballindenisk. The son of Ocovango is possibly benefiting from a sounder surface in recent weeks and should get his day in a similar contest early in the autumn.