THE town of Doneraile is synonymous with National Hunt racing as the finishing point of the first recorded steeplechase back in 1752.

Fittingly it is the Doneraile point-to-point on April 28th that will stage the IHRB’s recently announced €5,000 race, which will aim to breathe new life into the older horse division between the flags.

Doneraile point-to-point secretary Declan O’Keeffe was understandably thrilled that their fixture was selected to stage the first in what is hoped to be a number of valuable races across all the regions targeting older horses.

“We are absolutely delighted to stage the race. We look forward to the point-to-point year-on-year and this is a great way to encourage people to continue to keep their older horse in training. It is very welcome.”

O’Keeffe is very well placed to understand the picture within the older maiden and winners division at present, as his own colours are regularly seen within those races and were carried to success by the Aidan Fitzgerald-trained six-year-old Rosfoyle at Ballindenisk last Sunday.

“It is a great addition that gives a big opportunity for the older horse to race for such a big prize,” added O’Keeffe who currently has four horses in training.

“It is not a business for the people who own these older horses, they are doing it for the passion and it is usually a family thing, like ourselves.”

TWO of Martin Hassett’s graduates were seen to particularly good effect at Newbury on Saturday, when Dingo Dollar and Ms Parfois, lined up as leading contenders within the £250,000 Ladbrokes Trophy.

The pair, who ultimately finished third and sixth respectively in what is one of the big handicaps of the National Hunt season, had both won four-year-old maiden point-to-points for Hassett’s Burnchurch yard within the space of three months, and it is a credit to his early handling of the pair, that the former stablemates ended up re-opposing with genuine live chances in such a valuable contest three years later.

DEBUT SUCCESS

Boulta winner, Ms Parfois, in particular has gone from strength to strength with each season following her debut success, winning a pair of listed races last season, in a campaign which also saw her finish second at the Cheltenham Festival and in Aintree’s Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase.

The now seven-year-old will look to further enhance her reputation in the Welsh National later this month.