DAVID Christie had to be satisfied with two placings from his three runners between the flags on Sunday, but he was more than compensated the following evening at the Horse Racing Ireland Awards in the Mansion House, Dublin, where he was the recipient of the point-to-point award.

The press release covered the facts. ‘David once again proved himself a master at campaigning horses within the open division, as he won no fewer than 19 races in the category throughout the 2023/24 season. Stable star Winged Leader supplied nine of those victories, which were all recorded in a winning run that stretched from Farmacaffley in February to Taylorstown in May, a run that secured Winged Leader the champion point-to-point horse crown, becoming the third different horse that his Fermanagh-based handler has secured that title with in the past five seasons.’