SEVERAL marathon cards were required last weekend to accommodate the strong demand from handlers to run their horses as the final weeks of the season fast approach.

In total, 341 horses ran across the four point-to-point venues last weekend, with Ballysteen usurping Tullaherin as the busiest fixture of the season with 98 runners at the Limerick venue on Saturday, two more than the 96 which took to the track for the Meath and Tara fixture in Fairyhouse 24 hours later.