A treble for Jamie Codd and a double for The Ballagh handler Denis Murphy were the undisputed highlight of today’s Wicklow Hunt point-to-point run in cold, but dry and bright conditions at Fairwood, Tinahely, today.

Corran Cross, a bay gelding having his first run was the two lengths winner of the maiden race for four year olds to get the Codd-Murphy partnership on the scoreboard. “He is a nice horse. He liked the soft ground. He will improve a lot,” said Murphy afterwards, who added that the son of Doyen is for sale.

The pair in form shared a double when Honest Exchange stretched for a six lengths victory up the Fairwood hill to the finish line and took the Winner of One by six lengths. Honest Exchange won his maiden over the same track in October.

Between the first and last race success Codd won the maiden race for five and six year old mares on Not May for Meath handler Hugh Finegan to score his third success of the day.

Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe were successful with Whitechurch, the six lengths winner of the maiden race for five and six year old geldings, in the colours of Kilkenny owner Richard Frisby. Afterwards champion handler said Whitechurch will be aimed at a Winner of One race next time.

The Open Lightweight Race was won by Val De Ferbet trained by former jump jockey now TV racing pundit Andrew McNamara and the remaining race on the card – the maiden race for six year olds and upwards – was won by Feagreen Native from the Kildare stable of Peter McCreery and was well ridden by Robbie Jackson.

An extra attraction at the end of the day was a pony race featuring four young riders from Wicklow and Bray hunts who participated in a fast run gallop over one circuit of the track. This event was hugely entertaining and first home and full of running till the very end was Kerri McDonald of Wicklow Hunt on a game pony named Jet.

Extra attractions on the field during the afternoon was a non-stop session of Dancing with Declan, a display of falconry and the foxhounds pack enjoyed themselves on a visit to the parade ring. The organisers were clever in adding the extra attractions and the attendance enjoyed the extra enterianment between races. It is an idea that could catch on and improve attendances, however, today’s crowd was satisfactory on a cold November day.

Point-to-pointing also took place at Turtulla, Co. Tipperary, where two Wexford trained winners prevailed. Shoot To Fame in the colours of Patrick Curran and trained by Sean Doyle, Ballindaggin, who elected to go to Tinahely, was the four lengths winner of the Winner of Two race with Harley Dunne in the Winner of Two race.

Wexford rider Peter Kavanagh, (19), enjoyed his first success as a rider aboard Mad Jack Mytton for the Monbeg Partnership and handler Cormac Doyle in the Open Lightweight Race confined to novice riders. It was a tight finish – the winner scored by a head!

Next Sunday’s point-to-point is the Killinick Harriers fixture at Lingstown, Tomhaggard, and the first race is at 12 noon, and the highlight will be the race over the famous Lingstown ‘banks. Entries close on Tuesday.