ALL roads led to Tattersalls on Sunday for the Louth Foxhounds meeting and, on an afternoon that witnessed 86 horses participating on the eight-race card, the retiring Pat Doyle sent out his final point-to-point winner courtesy of City Slippers (7/2) in the winners’ of two.

The ultra-consistent City Slippers was soon positioned at the head of affairs with regular partner Emily Costello, and he got into a lovely rhythm in front.

The seven-year-old was clearly travelling best from the penultimate of the 15 obstacles and stormed clear from the turn into the home straight to beat Empire Soldier by an increasing 14 lengths in the colours of Co Waterford-based owner Jenny Hunt.

As revealed in last Saturday’s edition of The Irish Field, Doyle will now be handing over the reins at Surview Stables to son Jack.

When interviewed post-race by paddock commentator Johnny McCoy, Doyle said: “It has been great, I’ve had a lot of good times and trained a lot of wonderful horses. I’ve had terrific support from my wife Mary, [son] Jack rode a lot of winners, and another highlight was my daughter Susie winning two ladies’ titles in point-to-points.”

Sing wins by a whisper

The closest finish of the afternoon came in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden as the Paul Pierce-trained Sing Like Madonna (6/1) recorded a last-gasp success under Joey Dunne.

The only newcomer in the 14-runner field and representing the Blackhall Stables Partnership, had to be pushed along briefly in fourth spot from five out as Buddy And Me held sway up front.

Buddy And Me still appeared the most likely winner approaching the last as she held in the region of a four-length advantage over the closing Sing Like Madonna.

The five-year-old daughter of Kingston Hill, an €8,000 graduate of the 2024 Fairyhouse July sale, then cut down Buddy And Me in the dying strides to oblige by a head in what was the afternoon’s closest finish.

Risky business

The meeting closed with the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden and Kilmore-based handler Michael John Murphy supplied the winner in his brother-in-law Paul Miskella’s The Risky Miskies (5/1).

Placed on three previous occasions, The Risky Miskies was returning from a six-month break, and he made his way to the front with Troy Walsh after three out. Containing his closest pursuer Clonmeen Cross when the long-time leader fell at the last, it was Cooleagh that then finished second, some 16 lengths adrift of the victorious eight-year-old.

DONNCHADH Doyle concluded the campaign with a flourish by winning both divisions of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, the Ballindaggin-based operator signing off with Bingo Bus (2/1) in the second division.

It was Rob James who was aboard Bingo Bus, sending his mount to the front approaching two out.

Having secured a terrific leap here, the son of Nirvana Du Berlais was always in command thereafter as he stormed clear to dismiss long-time leader Cool Off by 13 lengths.

“Rob said that he jumped very well today and that he’s a fast horse that should be dropped back in trip,” reported the handler of Bingo Bus, a close relation to Greatwood Hurdle winner Nietzsche who was quickly added to this Thursday’s Tattersalls Ireland sale at Fairyhouse.

Barry Stone partnered an initial winner for Doyle by steering newcomer Naturalenergy (3/1), also sporting the familiar Monbeg Syndicate silks, to success in the first division of this contest.

Assertive

The Affinisea-sired Naturalenergy, an €8,000 foal purchase, picked up the running after two out and could be called the most likely winner approaching the last as he asserted to thwart the pacesetting Tayant Blue by two and a half lengths.

“He’s a lovely horse that was green there, and he’ll now be sold,” remarked Doyle of Naturalenergy, which was likewise due to be offered at Fairyhouse on Thursday.

Stone departed with two winners as the amateur earlier joined forces with James Kenny to collect the four-year-old mares’ maiden aboard Galant Jewel (4/1).

The Kew Gardens bay picked up the running at the third-fence, got into a lovely rhythm thereafter and made all the running as she powered clear from after two out to dispense with Thetype Istitle by 13 lengths in the colours of her handler’s mother Mrs Noeleen Kenny.

ON an excellent afternoon for front runners, Mr Caulfield (8/1) recorded a virtual pillar-to-post success under his handler John Walsh’s son James Walsh in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Valirann-sired Mr Caulfield disputed the running until edging ahead from five out, having given an exhibition of fencing, and he drew clear from well before the last to account for Oceanofcrystals by five lengths in the silks of Martin Molloy from Carnew.

Mr Caulifield was also due to be offered at Fairyhouse on Thursday afternoon.

The Sean Doyle-trained George Dundee (7/1), meanwhile, booked his passage to Thursday’s Fairyhouse sale by landing the second division of this same contest in the hands of Cormac Byrne.

The Monbeg Syndicate-owned George Dundee assumed command before the last to dispose of Sherwood Star by five and a half lengths.

Horse to follow

Sherwood Star (M. D. O’Sulivan): This son of Hillstar made the frame for the second time in as many starts by chasing home George Dundee in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Ultimately beaten some five and a half lengths, he should easily go one better in an autumn maiden point.