A record-breaking seven Grade 1 successes were achieved in December

Irish Point to Pointers enjoyed a number of notable successes throughout the month of December and in particular over the Christmas period.

These successes followed on from the record-breaking success point-to-pointers enjoyed in November, with 185 former Irish Point-to-point graduates winning a race under rules in the month of December.

Whilst the 2018 record of 198 winners was not surpassed, former graduates recorded a staggering seven Grade 1 successes over the four-week period. The previous record for Grade 1 winners in December was five, which was achieved back in 2010.

The opening day of December saw two ex-pointers get the month off to a great start with Envoi Allen and Honeysuckle both recording two impressive Grade 1 victories at Fairyhouse.

Envoi Allen was the first graduate to enjoy Grade 1 success, following up on his win at Down Royal when making his hurdling debut just a few weeks earlier, the son of Muhtahir preserved his unbeaten record when landing the Grade 1 Baroneracing.com Royal Bond Novices’ Hurdle.

The Ballinaboola point-to-point winner added another success to his career winnings on Sunday when landing the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle making that his seventh victory since his pointing debut.

Jerry Cosgrave’s Dromahane four-year-old winner Honeysuckle also preserved her unbeaten record over hurdles with success in the Grade 1 Baroneracing.com Hatton´s Grace Hurdle when coming home in front for trainer Henry de Bromhead under Rachael Blackmore.

Having secured a Grade 2 win on his season debut at Weatherby back in November, The World’s End had to settle for third on his second outing of the season, but returned to his winning ways with his most recent performance when landing the Grade 1 Marsh hurdle at Ascot.

The son of Stowaway began his career at the Monbeg Stables for Sean Doyle when parting ways with his rider on his only start between the flags at Ballinaboola back in 2015.

Stephen’s day proved to be a very lucrative day for ex-pointers, as it provided them with three out of their seven Grade 1 successes achieved in December.

Notebook was first to taste Grade 1 success on the day when coming home in front in the Racing Post Grade 1 Novice Chase in the hands of Rachael Blackmore. The son of Samum, who has now won his last three starts over fences is a graduate of John Nallen and won his maiden at Dromahane by 12 lengths before being sold to Mags O’Toole for £70,000 at the Cheltenham Sales.

The Ian Ferguson Slate House Tattersalls Farm graduate registered his fifth career success when landing the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices Chase at Kempton for Colin Tizzard.

The Wilson Dennison formerly owned gelding started his career between the flags when running out a 10-length winner of his four-year-old maiden and was then bought by Tom Malone for £260,000 at the Cheltenham Festival Sale.

Faugheen, who secured a win on his season debut over fences at Punchestown in November, followed up this success when securing victory in the Grade 1 Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase at Limerick.
The eleven-year-old pulled clear approaching the final fence and kept on well in the closing stages for a comfortable victory over the Gordon Elliott-trained Samcro.

The gelding started his career with Andy Slattery and was an impressive winner of his point-to-point maiden at Ballysteen before joining the Willie Mullins stable.

Battleoverdoyen was another to enjoy success over the Christmas period, registering his sixth track victory in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown. The Gordon Elliott-trained son of Doyen made his winning debut between the flags back in 2017 in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden at Loughanmore for handler Jerry Cosgrave and was subsequently sold for £235,000.
 
December highlights included:

Grade 1 success for Envoi Allen (Gordon Elliott), Honeysuckle (Henry De Bromhead), The Worlds End (Tom George), Faugheen (Willie Mullins), Notebook (Henry De Bromhead), Slate House (Colin Tizzard) and Battleoverdoyen (Gordon Elliott).

Grade 2 successes for Native River (Colin Tizzard), Angels Breath (Nicky Henderson), Bun Doran (Tom George), Fury Road (Gordon Elliott) and Global Citizen (Ben Pauling).

Grade 3 successes for Cogry (Nigel Twiston-Davies) and Top Ville Ben (Philip Kirby).

Grade B successes for Minella Times (Henry De Bromhead), The Jam Man (Ronan Mcnally), Alfa Mix (Gavin Cromwell) and Sumos Novios (Liam Burke).

Listed successes for Minella Melody (Henry De Bromhead), Magic of Light (Jessica Harrington), Israel Champ (David Pipe) and Potters Corner (Christian Williams).