UK Point-to-Point Round Up 26th February 2020

Irish point-to-point graduates left their mark in UK points yet again this week when recording 11 wins across the card. Below, we take a look at where some of the standout former Irish pointers started off their racing careers. 

Saturday, 22nd February 2020

Duncombe Park, Yorkshire

Panthers Creek got off the mark at the fourth time of asking in UK points when landing the restricted race in the hands of William Easterby by one-and-a-half lengths. The seven-year-old has shown very little since he began his career in UK points having pulled up on his first three starts however the application of blinkers in this contest looks to have revived some of his old form.

The son of Getaway was previously trained in Ireland by Michelle Gannon, where he won his six-year-old and upwards maiden at Rathcannon in April 2019, before going onto finish runner-up in a Tipperary Hunter Chase a month later.

Charing, Kent

Darius Des Bois vindicated the promise of his two previous second placed efforts when finding success in the Ladies open race. The finish was fought out by Don't Do Mondays and the seven-year-old son of Great Pretender, with novice jockey Francesca Flinton in the saddle for trainer Jennifer Owen. Many expected the more experienced Don’t Do Mondays to prevail but Darius des Bois wasn't in the mood for adding another second to his form figures for 2020 and held on to a one-length advantage on the race to the winning post, giving his jockey her first success.

The gelding started off his racing career in Ireland with Colin Bowe in Irish points falling on his first start before finishing fifth in Lemonfield in a four-year-old maiden in March 2017.

Sunday, 24th February 2020

Badbury Rings, Dorset

The Ryan Potter-trained No Limitations returned to the winners’ enclosure when scoring in the second division of the restricted race under Bradley Gibbs. The son of Trans Island was last seen winning in March 2019 at Maisemore Park and ran twice more since then having finished third in January.

Originally handled by Eugene O’Sullivan, the nine-year-old finished eigth on his debut in Irish points at Athlacca in a five-year-old geldings’ maiden in 2016.

Higham, Suffolk

The James Owen-trained favourite Just Cause secured his eigth UK point-to-point victory by a distance of 10 lengths in the men’s open race on Sunday and the 10-year-old is now the leading national horse for the number of wins achieved in this current campaign.

The son of Court Cave began his career in Irish points for handler Mouse Morris when winning his four-year-old maiden at Boulta on debut. The gelding has also enjoyed a total of five hunter chase career successes.

Wadebridge, Cornwall

The progressive Bridge of Spies took the Intermediate by 10 lengths in the colours of George and James Beilby while also providing Dungarvan native Conor Houlihan with his second career success, having only just landed his first career success in the previous race. The 21-year-old has ridden three winners in Ireland and now works for Will Biddick in the UK.

The son of Indian River got off the mark at the third time of asking in Irish points when winning his five-year-old geldings maiden at Maralin for handler James Barcoe in 2016.