THIRTEEN riders have now signed up for the Ward Union Hunt members and subscribers race which will be run over one circuit of the point-to-point course after racing at The Folly, Oldtown next Sunday, February 5th.

There is just one lady among the baker’s dozen who is none other than Cathy O’Leary, trainer of the three-time hurdle winners Conright Boy and Jo Go and a sister of dual national champion point-to-point rider, Tony Martin.

Riders and their non-thoroughbred horses had to take part in a schooling session last Sunday at the Lee Valley Training Centre where they were monitored by clerk of the course at The Folly, Paddy Griffin (who sent out Aminabad to win at Catterick on Tuesday), and fellow trainer and neighbouring farmer to the point-to-point venue, Pat Rooney.

Timmy Carberry, who is married to Pat’s daughter Emma, is joint-organiser of the race along with Mark Andrews and both are looking forward to riding on Sunday. According to Timmy, who gave nothing away about his own performance at Lee Valley, Paddy Lally’s horse jumped well as did the mount of Peter Reynolds, while local farmer John Bobbett could prove “a bit of a dark horse”.

On a brief tour of north Co Dublin last Saturday, it was good to see that the Ward Union not only have lots of directional signs to their point-to-point but plenty of large advertisements as well.