IF we look at the racing results chronologically over the extended Easter period, we see that we once again get to mention Joseph O’Brien, individual bronze medallist at the 2009 European Junior eventing championships, as he saddled Celestial Orbit to win the Park Express Stakes (Group 3) at The Curragh on Good Friday.

Ward Union Hunt follower Paddy O’Brien maintained his good run on Saturday when, in front of many cheering friends and neighbours, he landed the BOYLE Sports Mares Handicap Chase (Listed) at Fairyhouse on the Gavin Cromwell-trained Me Wee Bonnie Lass.

The seven-year-old Doyen bay was bred by former show jumper Danielle McSorley out of the Croco Rouge mare Vie En Rose, whose 2013 Mahler daughter, registered as Lady Of The Maher with CapallOir, has bred two Irish Sport Horse colts by Paris Blue Merelsnest Z.

The following Blackrock College AFC Ladies’ National was won by the Sean O’Brien-trained The Gradual Slope, who provided Scottish-born former 5* show jumper Nicole Lockhead Anderson with her first success under National Hunt Rules. She has recorded nine point-to-point wins this season, the last of these coming at Quakerstown on Sunday.

Also on Saturday, but at the point-to-point in Loughanmore (where the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland will be holding their popular one-day event on August 1st), the first division of the opening Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale four-year-old mares maiden was won by the newcomer Crazy Alice, who is trained by another former European Junior eventing championship team member, Ross Crawford.

Staying between the flags, but on to Sunday at Quakerstown where the first race on the card, the Goffs Aintree four-year-old maiden, was won by the Tom Keating-owned and trained newcomer Milford Road. This chesnut Jukebox Jury gelding was bred out of the Sea The Stars mare Paschalia by the Co Down show jumper, in partnership with Stephen Lanigan O’Keeffe.

From the more recent era of former event riders, Josh Williamson, who was on the gold medal-winning 2022 European Pony team, recorded his first Easter Festival win as a professional jockey when landing the BAR 1 Betting Hurdle at Cork on the Gordon Elliott-trained Ndaawi.

Two former Pony Club members were on the mark at Fairyhouse. I really don’t know if I should mention the 33/1 win of Ben Harvey on Katie Daniels in the Cawley Furniture Novice Handicap Hurdle, as I dismissed his chances in favour of his brother and fellow former Ward Union Branch member Alex, whose mount never got in the race and was pulled up!

The concluding Race Displays Joseph O’Reilly Hunters Chase was won by the 12-year-old Getaway gelding Five Star Getaway who provided his rider, Josh Berry, a former member of the Killinick Branch, with his second success under Rules.

Winning ways

Two former Ward Union Branch members partnered winners at Cork on Monday. The first of the pair to strike was Tadhg Stafford, who recorded his first track success in the John Thomas McNamara Series Maiden Hunters Chase on Lawful Ruler.

The seven-year-old Rule of Law gelding is trained for the rider’s father James, the farrier at Tattersalls Sales, by the latter’s brother Paul.

Dara O’Sullivan landed the concluding Cork & Waterford Mares Point-to-Point Flat race on the track newcomer Born Believing, a five-year-old Court Cave mare who runs in the colours of the rider’s mother Claire O’Connell, who also trains and bred the winner. The bay is a full-sister to the recent Randox Ulster National winner Born Braver.

Back to former event riders. At Fairyhouse, the concluding Leinster Reinforcements & Brazil Piling (Pro-Am) Flat Race was won by the Gordon Elliott-trained Charismatic Kid, who was ridden by Harry Swan, a member of Ireland’s silver medal-winning team at the 2018 European Pony championships. Up to Loughanmore for day two of the East Antrims’ Easter meeting, where former 4* rider Stuart Crawford saddled three winners.

We found one showing connection at the North Cotswold point-to-point at Paxford, where the mixed open was won by the 10-year-old Beat Hollow gelding Kilfilum Woods, who was bred in Co Wexford by Mary Margaret Roche.