IT was always apparent from the start of the season that, barring injury or other catastrophe, this would be the campaign in which Derek O’Connor would create more history by becoming the first ever rider to ride 1,000 point-to-point winners.

A successful autumn campaign for him meant that by the end of January, the target was very much within sight and so, being one who delights in watching significant point-to-point events, I had a few Sundays following Derek’s progress which took me to Dungarvan and Conna, two tracks I had not visited in a while, and eventually to Cragmore, Askeaton where the historic victory was finally secured.

It is a marvellous achievement and will be hard to match, though as Jamie Codd got to 700 winners on St Patrick’s Day, one could not say categorically that it is beyond his grasp if he keeps going for a few more years.

Derek regained his riders’ title though this was made easier for him when Jamie fell-foul of the whip rules at Cheltenham and was forced to miss a number of point-to-point days. However, to get to 90 winners is meritorious anyway.

GAMBLE

St Patrick’s Day should be a good day to hold a point-to-point but for a while it has not found a meeting to comfortably slot into the day. This year Ballynoe took the gamble of moving to the national holiday and from my perspective it seemed a marriage made in heaven. Ballynoe already have a strong feature race in the Gain Mares’ Final and also offer a good supporting card.

With a spectator-friendly track which offers a very fair test for horses, the mid-March date almost guarantees ground that will not be firmer than good on the faster downhill section which can be a concern for trainers.

What it does need is more nationwide promotion so that more horses, especially mares qualified for the feature race, travel to contest the races. More travelling horses will bring with them travelling supporters and so should help the meeting’s finances.

Let us just hope that the Ballynoe committee were pleased enough with their first effort on this iconic day and will go with the same date next year.

LEADING HORSE

The battle of leading horse did not ignite until the closing weeks of the season. The Lalor family’s Carrigeen Acebo was at the head of the table for quite a while until she showed signs of vulnerability when beaten at Largy.

Suddenly Mr Bolt who had started the season a maiden came out of the pack to threaten the mare’s lead.

Though proving somewhat moody and appearing reluctant to race, Liz Lalor coaxed a good win from the grey mare at the East Galway meeting to establish what appeared to be a two-win cushion but Mr Bolt responded with two open wins in two days at Necarne and Stradbally.

That the two camps then decided to call a truce and settle for a tie was a little disappointing. Seven wins apiece is one of the Irish record though the removal of winning limits has not been with us for long.

By comparison one only has to look to Britain where this season the magnificent Chestnut Annie ran her last race.

Sold by Cork’s Ivor Kingston to her Welsh connections she now goes to visit Dr Massini having won no less than 40 point-to-points and two hunter chases.