Despite point-to-points taking a short break over the Christmas period, there was plenty still to savour with two competitive hunter chases, the final point-to-point of 2013 and yet another record-breaking run for Irish pointers on the track.

Down Royal

On St Stephen’s day, Down Royal played host to the cream of Irish pointers in the 2013 renewal of the Albert Bartlett Hunters’ Chase. The rivalry between last year’s winner Tammy’s Hill (winner of 10 points and five hunter chases) and nine-time hunter chase winner Salsify looked set to play the lead role in the story of the race with the tally at two apiece from their four previous meetings. However, it got off to an ominous start as both horses’ jockeys weighed in a couple of pounds overweight (I wouldn’t have liked to publicly stand on the scales the day after Christmas either!), leaving the two leading contenders at a disadvantage with the third favourite, Enda Bolger’s On The Fringe, a three-times hunter chase winner himself. The two horses at the head of the market had to fight it out for minor prize money as On The Fringe benefited from no Christmas indulgences from his jockey, Nina Carberry, and trumped both in the finish with Tammy’s Hill taking second ahead of third-placed Salsify.

Limerick

The second hunter chase took place in Limerick on the 27th and looked a very open maiden contest which saw leading rider Jamie Codd partner the favourite Winter Magic and reigning champion Derek O’Connor on the second favourite, Burren River. The race was incident-packed with half of the field falling or pulling up, including Jamie’s mount. This left Derek and Burren River with a winning opportunity.

Unfortunately for Derek, winners on the track do not count towards the leading point-to-point riders’ championship and he remains with a 16-win deficit to make up on Jamie.

Dromahane

Dromahane did a sterling job to put on their point-to-point on Sunday, 29 December after the spell of inclement weather posed a serious threat, but runners were not deterred and turned up in their droves. In all, 123 runners produced a mammoth 10-race card, giving trainers Aiden ‘Scoby’ Fitzgerald and Robert Tyner doubles with Richie Deegan and Derek O’Connor in the saddle for the respective trainers.

Also on the scoreboard was Maxine O’Sullivan, who partnered her father’s horse to victory in the confined maiden, leaving her just one winner shy of Rachel Blackmore in the ladies’ title race.

Pointers do the business

Irish pointers won 60 races under rules over the festive period, including seven graded races. The majority of these are horses who have graduated from the point-to-point circuit and moved on from their point-to-point handlers to be trained by predominantly track trainers. However, one graded winner, Theatre Bird, was truly representing the point-to-point folk. A winner at Kirkistown last March, the mare took on the big guns – namely Willie Mullins, who saddled the first two favourites for leading owners JP McManus and Gigginstown – in the Grade 3 mares’ hurdle and won decisively at 14/1. The six-year-old mare is trained by Sean ‘Farmer’ Doyle who, it is fair to say, isn’t too au fait with the big days out at premier racecourses.

Bumping into him earlier on in the day, I found him a little flustered.

“I forgot the effing colours,” he exclaimed. “I don’t even know how, as I actually washed them and everything.”

It made absolutely no difference to the result or the enjoyment, thrill and appreciation that such a win means to the underdog point-to-point man.