PTP maiden closing

HANDLERS who have not trained more than 10 winners are invited to make entries for the €3,000 five-year-old and upwards maiden sponsored by the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee at the Golden Vale meeting on Sunday week, November 21st. This race closes for entries on Tuesday at 12pm.

Paul Murtagh, INHSC Registrar, said: “In a further demonstration of the INHSC’s commitment to supporting point-to-points, the stewards of the INHSC are delighted to sponsor this race at Turtulla, near Thurles, next weekend.

Eric Browne mourned

LISTOWEL bookmaker and racecourse director Eric Browne died last weekend after a brief illness. Among those to pay tribute to him was J.P. McManus, who said: “I have nothing but the best of memories of him. I would always seek him out at the races and enjoy every moment I spent with him. He was a unique person, blessed with a great turn of phrase, so entertaining, and a great sport.”

He is survived by his wife Mary, son Berkie and daughters Jani and Sarah.

Trainer’s wife passes

MARY Rogers, wife of Ardee, Co Louth, trainer Harry Rogers, died peacefully on Monday. She leaves behind her son Christopher and two grandchildren.

Ballylinch fees out

NEW Bay, sire of Group 1 winner Saffron Beach, has had his stud fee for 2022 increased from €20,000 to €37,500.

The son of Dubawi won the Prix du Jockey Club before retiring to stand at Ballylinch Stud. He had his first two-year-old runners in 2020 and some of that crop have improved again as three-year-olds. Along with Saffron Beach, his best representatives to date are Bayside Boy, Bay Bridge, New Mandate and Perotto.

His yearlings averaged €82,500 and made up to €320,000.

Lope De Vega again heads the Ballylinch roster, his fee remaining at €125,000. He was the leading sire at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by aggregate and his yearlings averaged €220,000.

Make Believe, sire of Mishriff, goes up slightly from €15,000 to €17,500, while Waldgeist takes the reverse move for his second season at stud.