THE international fixture at Barbury was well-covered in the issue of December 24th but two other point-to-points were staged on that Sunday, December 16th, which are reviewed here.

Five of the seven winners at the Atherstones’ Clifton-On-Dunsmore meeting, which got under way at 10.15am, were bred in Ireland including two favourites saddled by Cork-born Joe O’Shea.

The first of the pair was the Royal Anthem gelding Irish Anthem, who brought up a hat-trick of successes this season in the ladies’ open under Immy Robinson, while the second was the Choisir gelding Road To Rome who was also visiting the winner’s enclosure for the third time this term when partnered by Co Galway-born Tommie O’Brien to claim the intermediate.

Reigning ladies’ champion, Gina Andrews, brought up a double when the Maxwell Young-trained Cavs Girl, a 2013 mare by Mahler, won the 14-runner restricted. Bryon Moorcroft was also on the mark twice, winning the four, five and six-year-old maiden over two miles, five furlongs with the Sarah McQueen-owned and trained Haven’t Time, a 2014 mare by Curtain Time who ran here three times during 2018. His second came in the club members conditions’ race on Thomas Faulkner’s 2009 Vinnie Roe gelding, Black Jack Rover.

Four of the six races at Alnwick were won by Irish-breds although the 10-runner restricted went to Worcester Pearmain, a 2010 Beat All mare bred in Britain but trained by Downpatrick native Tony Dobbin.

Those first past the post with an IRE suffix were the Jack Teal-ridden and trained 2013 Beneficial gelding Matts Commission (NPPA conditions race), the Amie Waugh-ridden and trained 2008 Winged Love gelding Winged Crusader (ladies’ open), the Harry Wallace-ridden and trained 2007 Exit To Nowhere gelding Financial Climate (men’s open) and Monte Alban (open maiden) who was making his British debut.

The last named, ridden by Joe Wright and trained by Justin Landy, is a 2013 Soviet Star gelding out of the Lawman mare Esee. He finished second once and third twice in five outings here last spring when owned and trained by David Harry Kelly.

Gibbs’ treble at Ffos Las

DESPITE further rain, the rearranged Carmarthenshire fixture went ahead at Ffos Las on Saturday, December 22nd when five of the seven winners were Irish-bred, three of them being partnered by the reigning Welsh champion, Bradley Gibbs.

Two of that trio were trained by the rider’s father David with the first of the pair to strike being Highway Jewel who, on her British debut, finished alone in the seven-runner mares’ maiden.

The 5/4 favourite, who was fifth on the second of two starts here last season for Mark Cahill, is a 2014 Ask chesnut who was bred by Kathleen Duff out of the unraced Presenting mare Duffys Present.

The Gibbs father and son duo landed the five-runner conditions race with the 2010 Milan mare Thegirlfrommilan, while Bradley claimed the four-runner restricted on the Beverley Thomas-trained Captain McGinley, a 2010 gelding by Robin Des Pres.

James King partnered the Jake Slater-trained Bally River Boy (a 2011 gelding by Indian River) to victory in the mixed open, and the Michael Bowen-saddled Hidden Cargo won the 11-runner open maiden in the hands of Peter Bryan.

The 2012 Stowaway gelding, who was having his first start between the flags following 11 outings on the track, was bred by Helen Mullins out of the Alhaarth mare All Heart who won a bumper, a hurdle race and a chase and was listed-placed over fences.