Two races were ‘divided’ at the Bree Hunt Club point-to-point at Monksgrange today where local rider and champion Barry O’Neill had three winners to bring his seasonal total to 56 with just about a month of the season left and champion handler Colin Bowe was also on form and has 34 winners to his credit and is sure of another title.
Everybody was betting on Barry O’Neill, particularly the locals who admire him as a rider and champion, and he didn’t let them down.
The maiden race for five year old geldings was run in two divisions – 10 runners in each divide – and the first division saw Barry O’Neill in the frame on the Donnchadh Doyle trained Go Whatever rather easily by 14 lengths and he goes to the sales now, while the second division was captured by Ofalltheginjoints, by three lengths, trained Johathan Fogarty at Cleariestown, and ridden by Ray Barron. “We bought him at the Derby Sales. We fancied him. He got his ground. He’ll make a good chaser,” said his handler who has about eight horses in training.
The auction four year old maiden race produced a good winner by four lengths in Gabbys Cross, owned and trained by Bernadette Murphy, Blackwater, and a chance ride for Joseph O’Brien’s good young amateur jockey, Tom Hamilton.
Bought last August at Tattersalls, Gabbys Cross is likely to go to the Goffs Sales this week. The handler described her winner as “straight forward” and she was very impressed with him. Bernadette has had a great season by her own standards; “I’ve had three winners from four runners and two of them won first time out,” she proudly told WexfordToday.com.
Owner Leo McArdle travelled from Castleblaney to see his consistent mare Fort Worth Texas score by two and a half lengths in the Winner of Three Race. Barry O’Neill had the mount on the Colin Bowe trained winner who “will go to the track next” having achieved four wins and two ‘seconds’ in six runs.
The mares maiden race also ‘divided’ – 10 runners in each division – and first in the frame was Bella Ballerina from the Cork stable on Robert Tyner who completed the treble for Barry O’Neill, while division two went to Lexi’s Warrior, owned and trained by Richard O’Keeffe, at Harveystown, Taghmon, by three lengths and the first of two wins on the day for Harley Dunne.
Harley also won on Carrig Hill for Denis Murphy, Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, by five lengthsin the maiden race for geldings aged six years or over.
The Open Lightweight Race only attracted three runners, but ended with a close finish and two lengths success for Arctic Skipper, trained by Vincent Halley at Kill, Co. Waterford and ridden by John Barry.
It was a good day’s racing at Monksgrange and a long time since we have experienced two ‘divides’ on the same day. The pace was fast and furious and the track was in top condition with an exceptional covering of fresh grass in parkland surroundings. And a good attendance too!
There was a dramatic outcome to the four year old mares maiden at Dromhane, Co. Cork as Noreen Bawn, trained at Rathangan by Brian Jordan for Kilmore owner William Bates and ridden by veteran Cork jockey Mickey O’Connor passed the post first with a neck to spare, but following a steward’s enquiry she was relegated to second place.
However, the honours still came to Wexford as the placings of the first two mares was reversed and the victory went to Tucanae, running in the Eclipse Bloodstock colours, trained at Bunclody by Richard Black, and the mount of Luke Murphy, Gorey, having his 20th winner this season.

The winning connections celebrate after Fort Worth Texas victory at Monksgrange. Leo McArdle, Barry O’Neill, Brendan Walsh, Colin Bowe and his two children, Bobby and Katie. Pic; WexfordToday.com

There was some compensation for Brian Jordan in the maiden race for five year olds when he saddled The Bull McCabe in the colours of Noel Kevin Casey and with the veteran Benny Walsh from Tomhaggard in the plate scored a well deserved victory by one and a half lengths.
The four year old geldings maiden race was won by first timer Skatman in the Baltimore Stables Syndicate for handler Ellen Doyle, Coolgarrow, Monageer, and a winning mount for Barry Stone of Cleariestown. The winning verdict was two lengths.
In then final race at the Doneraile track, Jimmy O’Rourke, Silversprings, Bridgetown, took the mount on Desertmore Glen for Cork handler Denis Leahy and they won in a close finish.
There was point-to-point action at Fairyhouse today and the Wexford flag was flying on three occasions.
The mares maiden race for four year olds was won by the Monbeg Syndicate owned Get In Robin with James Walsh up, by two lengths and the four year old geldings maiden race went to Faivoir, making it a quick double for handler Donnchadh Doyle, with Blackwater rider Kevin Corrigan in the saddle beating James Kenny, Craanford, on Favori De Champdou.
And in the concluding race at the Meath track, Top Man and Shane Fitzgerald were six lengths to the good in the ‘older maiden’ contest for owner Richard Irwin, and handler Cormac Farrell who trains at Ballypreacus, near Bunclody.