AS we enter the final week of the point-to-point season, we look forward to two main tussles in the quest to crown the champions for the 2016/17 season. It will be very exciting to see if Barry O’Neill can hold on to his two-winner lead in the face of a late onslaught from Jamie Codd. The last four meetings are due to be run over the June bank holiday, terminating in the Monday meeting at Ballingarry.

Over the past fortnight, Jamie has cut the deficit from 12 to just the two and one would think that Barry is now beginning to feel the pressure. Here’s wishing both a safe and healthy tussle this weekend and may the best man be victorious.

The Irish team, including both protagonists, are to be praised for their tremendous victory in the Anglo-Irish Challenge at Kingston Blount last weekend.

The contest to crown the champion pointer of the season has added a lot of spice to the end of the season. Sprintingforgold went back into the lead last Sunday week by winning the open at Dromahane. In finishing second the previous Sunday at Stradbally, Ourmanmassini found himself leading the competition. Rumour had it that the connections of both horses had planned to share the title but, when James Doyle and Peter Flood were informed that placings would be taken into consideration, the contest was back on.

Ourmanmassini failed to win at Tralee last Saturday, so Sprintingforgold still holds the advantage. I saw Sprintingforgold win his maiden on the last day’s racing before Christmas as a strongly punted favourite.

If someone told me then that he would end up vying for the champion pointer title I would have laughed.

Recalling that race at Lingstown, he beat Ben Brody by two lengths after making a few mistakes under Rob James, who incidentally now looks sure to be crowned southern champion. Ben Brody failed to win a point but did dead-heat in a bumper at Kilbeggan and won a maiden hurdle at Punchestown last Monday week.

I would like to thank all those who I had the pleasure of meeting and dealing with over the last eight months. When the final race is run at Ballingarry, we will take our four-month break and look forward to the start of the new season. Go mbeirimíd beo ar an am seo arís.

Bernard Barry is an on-course bookmaker on the eastern circuit

Twitter: @baytownbernard