The curtain came down on the autumn point-to-point season on Sunday as Dromahane hosted the final meeting before Christmas. The 11-race card kicked off at 10.30am, meaning a bleary-eyed 5am start for this punter as I embarked on the long drive to Cork with our one runner, Nedzer’s Return.

It was another great day for leading rider Jamie Codd, who kicked off with a quick double in divisions two and three of the four-year-old maiden. The first of those wins was with Virtuel D’oudon, who is owned by William Drew and trained by Willie Codd. The same owner, trainer and rider trio teamed up in the same race last weekend with Tell Us More, who subsequently topped the horses-in-training sale at Brightwells on Friday.

Jamie himself was busy topping the bill at the Horse Racing Ireland annual awards last Monday week, where he picked up the point-to-point prize. Other nominees included Derek O’Connor and trainers Gordon Elliott, Declan McNamara and Rodger Sweeney, so it was no mean feat to come out on top. However, with over 550 winners ridden, Jamie is entirely worthy.

With Jamie being hotly touted to topple reigning champion Derek O’Connor’s 10-year domination as leading rider, it came as little surprise to see Derek back in action on Sunday – just three weeks after breaking his foot in a schooling accident.

As I walked into the weigh tent, there he was, kitted out to take a ride in the first. After doing a double-take, having seen him on his crutches just last weekend at Tattersalls, I had to question his miraculous recovery; he cited the need to make a few quid for Christmas. It epitomises the physical and mental strength of point-to-point jockeys – and proves some of them even have somewhat of a sense of humour.

Derek wasted little time in getting back in the winner’s enclosure as he took the second division of the five-year-old maiden on Le Feu Garde, trained by his brother Paurick. He and Jamie shared the spoils in the two divisions of the winners’ race and both had good chances in the eighth race of the day: the open lightweight.

It was a competitive race with 18 runners – about 17 more than I would have liked – so with the promise of a bit of hustle and bustle in such a large field, there was only one place I wanted to be: in front. Nedzer was fine with this plan. He travelled with his usual enthusiasm throughout and was still going well turning in. However, I could hear the challengers queuing up behind me and a quick glance over my shoulder showed Jamie looming large on my outside; he quickened on by me with two left to jump with Derek in hot pursuit. Nedzer galloped on well to finish a very respectable third while Jamie came out on top of his dual with Derek, on the mare Lisrose.

It has been quite an eventful season so far: the most intriguing champion jockey race is underway and Irish point-to-point graduates have excelled on the track, breaking records and substantiating the quality of our horses, which has been confirmed at recent sales with many of this season’s winners going on to sell with princely price tags.

Part two of the season promises to be even more thrilling. Stay tuned.