It was another successful weekend inside the rails for former Irish point-to-point graduates as 26 ex-pointers claimed the number one spot across ten national hunt fixtures in both Ireland and England.
Cogry was the first graduate to achieve one of the most notable successes of the weekend at Cheltenham, when he held on valiantly in the closing stages in the Betvictor Handicap Chase (Grade 3) while fending off the persistent challenges of runner-up Rock The Kasbah by a short-head.
The 10-year-old, who had struck for the Twiston-Davies combination in a Grade Three chase at the corresponding Cheltenham 2018 fixture, made his first successful outing since, making all the running and putting in an impressive round of jumping before sticking his nose down at just the right moment to come home in front.
The son of King’s Theatre started life out at the Colin McKeever stables for owner Wilson Dennison, when running a handful of times in points, with his best effort being second in a four-year-old geldings maiden at Largy before beginning his track career.
Alfa Mix secured a length-and-three quarter victory in the Tara Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) on his handicap debut at Navan on Sunday for trainer Gavin Cromwell.
Cromwell’s charge went to post an 8/1 shot for the €50,000 prize over two-and-a half miles and challenged long-time leader Drumacoo at the second last to take the lead on the run-in to win impressively.
The son of Fair Mix came to grief on his points debut in February, where he looked to have every chance when falling two-out in a four-year-old maiden at Ballinaboola for handler Matthew Flynn O’Connor of Ballycrystal Stables, before being sold at the Tattersalls Cheltenham sales a few weeks later for £42,000 to Gavin Cromwell.
| DATE | HORSE | TRAINER | TRACK | PTP HANDLER |
| 13/12/2019 | Chantry House (IRE) | Nicky Henderson | Cheltenham | Cian Hughes |
| 13/12/2019 | Cogry (GB) | Nigel Twiston-Davies | Cheltenham | Colin S. McKeever |
| 13/12/2019 | Copper Gone West (IRE) | Tim Vaughan | Doncaster | Terence O'Brien |
| 13/12/2019 | Doc Penfro (GB) | Miss E Lavelle | Bangor-on-Dee | P.M.J. Doyle |
| 13/12/2019 | Knight In Dubai (IRE) | Dan Skelton | Doncaster | Aidan Fitzgerald |
| 13/12/2019 | Knockoura (IRE) | M Barnes | Bangor-on-Dee | Roisin Hickey |
| 14/12/2019 | Baron de Midleton (IRE) | B Ellison | Doncaster | John O'Donovan |
| 14/12/2019 | Buster Edwards (IRE) | David Pipe | Hereford | C.W.J. Farrell |
| 14/12/2019 | Goulane Jessie (IRE) | Seamus Spillane | Fairyhouse | Seamus Spillane |
| 14/12/2019 | Longhousesignora (IRE) | Miss Venetia Williams | Hereford | Sam Curling |
| 14/12/2019 | Monkfish (IRE) | W P Mullins | Fairyhouse | Cormac Doyle |
| 14/12/2019 | My Old Gold (IRE) | N Richards | Doncaster | Declan Queally |
| 14/12/2019 | Northern Beau (IRE) | M J Scudamore | Cheltenham | Brian Jordan |
| 14/12/2019 | Storm Control (IRE) | Kerry Lee | Doncaster | Donnchadh Doyle |
| 14/12/2019 | Warthog (FR) | David Pipe | Cheltenham | Denis Paul Murphy |
| 15/12/2019 | Alfa Mix (GB) | Gavin Patrick Cromwell | Navan | Matthew Flynn O'Connor |
| 15/12/2019 | Empire Steel (IRE) | A M Thomson | Carlisle | Pat O'Rourke |
| 15/12/2019 | Fairly Legal (IRE) | Robert Tyner | Navan | Robert Tyner |
| 15/12/2019 | High Counsel (IRE) | G Hanmer | Southwell | P.M.J. Doyle |
| 15/12/2019 | Indian Native (IRE) | Alex Hales | Southwell | James G. Sheehan |
| 15/12/2019 | Mackenberg (GER) | Donald McCain | Carlisle | Donnchadh Doyle |
| 15/12/2019 | Mick The Jiver (GB) | Eoghan O'Grady | Navan | Eoghan O'Grady |
| 15/12/2019 | Mymilan (IRE) | A M Thomson | Carlisle | Colin S. McKeever |
| 15/12/2019 | Run Wild Fred (IRE) | Gordon Elliott | Navan | James W. Doyle |
| 15/12/2019 | Shan Blue (IRE) | Dan Skelton | Southwell | Andrew Slattery |
| 15/12/2019 | Whatsdastory (IRE) | Dr Richard Newland | Southwell | Debbie Hartnett |
