Edwulf proves to be the star attraction at Loughrea

Edwulf made a winning return to point-to-point action when he ran out a comfortable six-length winner of the Renvyle House Hotel & Resort and MacDermot & Allen Solicitors open at Loughrea.

The ten-year-old, who was recording his first success since he won the 2018 Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, was making his first appearance for Limerick trainer Enda Bolger, having joined his yard from his former trainer Joseph O’Brien.

Jumping well throughout in the hands of Aine O’Connor, the JP McManus-owned gelding began to assert his dominance on the six-runner contest exiting the back the straight, as he ultimately returned with six lengths to spare over another track in recruit in John Costello’s Foxtail Hill.

The son of Kayf Tara was described as a ‘miracle horse’ after his Irish Gold Cup success, which had come a year after he had collapsed in the home straight during the latter stages of the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

It was believed that he had suffered from a neurological episode in the incident which saw him also temporarily suffer from blindness when brought to Three Counties Equine Hospital.

Unsurprisingly the possibility of seeing the former star proved a big draw for what was the only point-to-point of the weekend, with a good crowd in attendance.

Bolger was not present to witness the success, as he was at Limerick to saddle Munster National fifth Movewiththetimes, but spring hunter chases across the Irish Sea at Cheltenham and Aintree will not feature on Edwulf's agenda for this season, as he is not eligible on account of finishing third to Monalee in a Grade 2 Chase at Gowran Park in February.