Champion point-to-point rider Barry O’Neill had a brilliant afternoon with a point-to-point winner at Punchestown before moving to Navan where he booted home a brace of winners for leading trainer Gordon Elliott who won four races on the Meath card.
Barry got off to a flying start on Rainbow Chaser, owned by Larry Dunne from Kilpedder, Co. Wicklow, and trained by Colin Bowe, getting home one and a half lengths in front of the Donnchadh Doyle trained The Strap Man ridden by young Jordan Gainford from Caim in the maiden race for five year old geldings.
O’Neill headed to Navan where he partnered Ucello Conti (4/7 fav.) to win the hunters’ chase in good style.
Ucello Conti, who lead last year’s Aintree Grand National field for most of the way until coming down three from the finish with Daryl Jacob up, goes for the Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham next month.
O’Neill completed a track double and a treble on the day aboard Thatsy (10/11 fav) in the bumper.
Colin Bowe saddled his 300th career point-to-point winner when Ferny Hollow won the maiden race for four year olds by 15 lengths at Knockanard, near Fermoy. The mount was taken by Jimmy O’Rourke, Silverspring, Bridgetown.
Also at the Cork track Seamus Neville, Brideswell, Bridgetown, saddled Notice To Close, running in the colours of his wife Ina, to a photo-finish victory in the maiden race for five year old geldings with Cork rider Michael O’Connor up.
There were four Wexford winners at Punchestown, including Rainbow Chaser (already mentioned). The Farmers Hunt Race was a winning opportunity for local trainer Peter Maher by two and a half lengths and Tiernan Roche guided Change Your Story to victory.
Shane Byrne, Blackwater, saddled Thunder Dragon in the mares’ maiden race and she achieved a six lengths success under Simon Cavanagh.
The ‘older maiden’ race was won by Ted, owned by Lorcan Higgins and trained by Liam Kenny, Ballydarragh, Craanford, and a winning ride for Rob James. The distance was six lengths.
There was also point-to-point action at Nenagh where Luke Murphy from Inch, Gorey, notched up a nice double success.
Murphy partnered Shanacoole for Colin Motherway’s Cork stable in the Winner of One Race and ended up the only finisher and later he teamed up with Alan Donoghue when winning the geldings’ maiden race on A Ton Nom by five lengths.
It was Murphy’s 12th winner of the season and he is lying fifth in the national point-to-point riders’ championship.

Generation City was three lengths winner of the Tattersalls maiden race for six year old geldings and a fine success for owner-breeder John Byrne of Scurlogue, Duncormick. He is trained by Ciaran Murphy, Mullingar.
Next Sunday’s point-to-point is at Fairwood, Tinahely, under the auspices of Bray Harriers, and the first race is off at 1 pm.
The card comprises of four maidens, an Open Lightweight and a Winners of One Race and the organisers are hopeful of a good crowd.