THE 2020/2021 point-to-point season began on Saturday last as the Ormond Hunt Foxhounds staged an autumn fixture for the first time since 2013. Held behind closed doors, an eight-race card at the Ballingarry venue served notice of the veritable feast of competitive action which lies ahead for point-to-point enthusiasts over the coming months.

Jockey James Walsh was in double form at the Co Tipperary venue, claiming the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden aboard the Michael Kenny-owned Saratoga Lass.

Handled in Adamstown, Co Wexford by Kieran Roche, the winning daughter of Valirann was patiently ridden throughout by Walsh and had little difficulty in disposing of fellow first-timer Boomtown Girl by a length and a half.

“We were very hopeful coming here today as she did a nice piece of work last Saturday. She showed her inexperience when she got to the front. I’d say she’ll come on plenty for that run today and will most likely be sold now,” outlined Roche, who has seven horses under his care at present.

The concluding leg of Walsh’s brace was completed in the closing older maiden as he guided the winner for his father, John Edward Walsh, High Stakes to a resounding victory. Positioned at the head of affairs throughout, the Scorpion-sired newcomer readily drew clear early in the home straight to get the better of Corach Rambler by seven lengths.

With Walsh senior on lead-up duties, it was left to the winning rider to remark of the bay, who the family sourced privately: “This is a horse we had since last year, he was meant to run early but got held up on us. It’s great he went and did that as he always shown us plenty at home. We’ll look at a winners’ race for him next.”

MORE accustomed to being crowned champion rider at the traditional season-ending fixture at the North Tipperary-track, Barry O’Neill commenced the defence of his title for a fourth time with a sparkling four-timer.

Long-standing ally David Christie provided O’Neill with his fourth and final winner as Marinero recorded his ninth win between the flags in the 18-runner open. The Ray Nicholas-owned gelding assumed command on the long run to the final fence and soon bounded clear to account for Rewritetherules by five lengths.

“This horse was running some tremendous races on ground he wouldn’t have enjoyed last year. The better surface today was the key to him,” commented Christie.

O’Neill’s remaining three winners were supplied by his principal supporter Colin Bowe, with the pair collecting the opening split of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden courtesy of Cooper’s Cross who atoned for pulling up on his debut at Knockmullen in February.

Collaring the front-running Chumlee in the shadows of the final obstacle, the Getaway gelding stuck to his task well late in the day to triumph by five lengths from Figaro Des Bordes.

“This a nice horse that we purchased at the Tattersalls Ireland May Sale two years ago. I don’t think my horses were in the best of form when he made his debut but thankfully he showed his true colours today,” outlined Bowe.

Last season’s leading rider and leading handler had their initial winner of the day in the five-year-old mares’ maiden as Navy Girl took the spoils in authoritative fashion.

An encouraging fourth at Ballyraggett on the final day of last season, the daughter of Westerner hit the front under O’Neill after the penultimate obstacle and stayed on to good effect to beat Knockanora Lady by eight lengths.

“This is a lovely honest mare that always gives her all. You’d love the way she finished her race today,” stated Bowe of the bay who sports the silks of Oxford-native Rebecca Surman.

Nine participants went to post in each of the two divisions of the younger geldings’ maiden with the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd-owned Neon Moon collecting the opening split to form the second leg of both the O’Neill four-timer and Bowe treble.

Acquired by connections for €70,000 as a three-year-old, the son of No Risk At All swept through on the outer of Unanswered Prayers after two out and galloped on stoutly on the flat to fend off Unanswered Prayers by two lengths.

DUNCORMICK, Co Wexford-located handler Michael Murphy maintained his excellent strike-rate in the earlier split of the younger geldings’ maiden as newcomer Sublime Heights obliged in game style.

Capably-ridden by Seán Staples, the Arcadio-gelding moved through to lead when Do No Wrong exited two from home before battling well late in the day to deny the staying-on Grozni by a neck. “I bought this horse as a foal from his breeder Willbert George who is a good friend of mine. Races like these are hard enough to win so we’ll enjoy today before making further plans,” said Murphy of the Redbridge Stables-owned youngster.

Last season’s joint-champion novice rider Ben Harvey was seen to good effect in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden when guiding the Pat Doyle-handled Monty Guiry to a front-running success.

Delivering in taking style on the promise of two excellent runs last autumn, most notably when finishing fourth behind Ballyadam at Portrush, the Roddy O’Byrne-owned bay set out his intentions from flag fall and scarcely saw another rival on his way to a three-length victory over Seán Doyle’s Fully Authorized.

Horse To Follow

Knockanora Lady (S. Curling): Third in a Thurles handicap hurdle last November, this daughter of Oscar made significant late headway to chase home Navy Girl and should have little difficulty in losing her maiden tag in the coming weeks.

Walsh’s great day

PREBAN, Co Wicklow-jockey John Walsh was a very content figure at Ballingarry winning on Saratoga Lass and High Stakes. “The younger mare in the first is a lovely type who Kieran (Roche) got through Marcus Collie.”

“I’m thrilled with dad’s High Stakes too. We’re only a small family outfit with five horses. Minimum Mix also ran in the open, so we’d half the yard running today!” concluded Walsh, who now sits one shy of his 50th points’ winner.