Cullentra Syndicate looking for points success

GORDON Elliott looks set to be a bigger force in the pointing fields this season if the evidence of the last five weekends are any indication of his intentions for the coming months.

The Cullentra Stables operator, who is a former champion point-to-point handler, has previously sent out over 120 runners in one season within the last decade. However in recent years, that number fell as low as seven during the 2017/18 campaign. That looks to have changed this season, with 15 runners already close to surpassing his total number of runners between the flags for each of the last three seasons.

Staff syndicate

Interestingly, from the 15 horses in his yard that have so far received a hunter certificate, over half are aged six or older, with five in the ownership of the Cullentra House Stable Staff Syndicate.

Two of his three winners on Sunday carried those colours to success where they were ridden by riders from within the yard. Evalabrune D’Or in particular has now supplied two of his staff with their first winners.

This is part of a growing trend of leading point yards keeping older horses in training for staff in the yard to ride in maidens and winners races which is certainly welcome, both for boosting participation in older age races, and also providing additional opportunities for new riders entering point-to-points.