Between watering and spiking the ground the energetic members of Shillelagh & District Hunt had the green fields of Fairwood, Tinahely, in great order for today’s successful point-to-point held in brilliant autumn conditions.

De Forgotten One was an easy eight lengths winner for Monager handler, Michael Goff, running in the colours of his wife, Caitriona, in the 8-runner maiden race for four year olds.
It was the first winner of the season for rider Shane Fitzgerald, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Saturday night and, according to Michael Goff, while they had a big party for Shane “everyone was on the dry” in order to be in top form for today and all worked out perfectly.
On My Wish List, trained by Goff’s neighbour, Mary Doyle, and ridden by Luke Murphy was runner-up with Jamie Codd on Denis Murphy’s Businessman filling the third spot.

Father and son, trainer and jockey, John Walsh and James Walsh, fresh from victory with Minimum Mix at Portrush, Co. Antrim, yesterday, made it a double for the Preban pair with No More Monkeys won the maiden race for ‘older’ maidens in the colours of Joe Kenny of Shillelagh.

Jamie Codd notched up a double starting on Lough Derg Rose for Tipperary owner, Pat Coffey, and The Ballagh trainer Denis Murphy by four lengths in the mares Winner of One Race. Pat Coffey was emotional about this victory following a family tragedy last January, but gained some comfort for the success and it meant a great deal to him.
David Kelly made the journey from Fethard, Co. Tipperary, and enjoyed a double with The Gallantway (Jamie Codd) in the maiden race for five year old geldings.

Codd was denied a treble and David Kelly a double when An Riceoir Ailainn ran out the ten lengths winner of the maiden race for mares aged five years and over for Blackwater handler Shane Byrne and jockey Harley Dunne.
Only three ran in the Open Lightweight Race confined to lady riders and there was an extraordinary finish with the 3/1 outsider Gabrielleamee grabbing a two lengths victory with a terrfic sprint from the last fence under Sheila Ahearne, while other two contestants, Eddie’s Miracle (Katie Ferris) and After Eight Sivola (Lisa O’Neill) dead-heated for second place.