UK Point-to-Point Round Up 15th January

UK point-to-points had a busy weekend with one fixture taking place on Saturday and three fixtures taking place on Sunday.

Irish point-to-point graduates made a large contribution to these four meetings, with a total of 13 graduates winning between the flags. We take a look at some of the standout performers below.

Saturday, 13th January 2020

Alnwick, Northumberland

Former Donnchadh Doyle inmate, Rio des Echanault, enjoyed success in the open maiden at Alnwick. The Son of Satri was sold privately from the Monbeg stables last summer after finishing in the first four on all three pointing starts in Ireland over a four-week spell at the end of the 2019 campaign.

The six-year-old finished runner-up when making his UK points debut in December and vindicated the promise of his second-placed effort when battling it out on the run-in to beat Liars Dice by a head for his UK handler Victoria McKie.

Kalabaloo justified her odds-on favouritism when recording a widening 12-length victory in the ladies open for Tom Ellis, who recorded a double on the day and has saddled a total of six UK point winners so far this season.

The eight-year-old, who is a five-time UK points winner and has also landed a victory in the Cheltenham hunter chase in May, started life out with Tipperary handler Sam Curling when winning on debut in her five-and-six-year-old mares’ maiden at Dromahane in 2017.

Sunday, 12th January 2020

Ampton, Suffolk

The James Owen-trained Just Cause secured his fifth UK point-to-point victory by a distance of one and a half lengths in the Veteran Conditions race on Sunday, providing owner Simon Stearn, Ampton's Clerk of the Course, with a thoroughly deserved winner.

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 10-year-old has also enjoyed a total of five hunter chase successes.

Former Irish pointer, Tullys Touch, returned six lengths clear of his rivals in the four-runner mixed open race for handler John Ibbott. The Touch Of Land-sired gelding made his UK point-to-point debut back in January and has claimed victory in three out of his five starts.

The seven-year-old ran several times in Irish points, with his best effort being in a five-year-old geldings’ maiden when he was placed second at Bartlemy in 2018 for handler Richard O’Keeffe.

Other ex-pointers successful on the day include Dream Doc and Occupied.

Wadebridge, Cornwall

The Mixed Open race went to the Irish point graduate Navanman for trainer John Heard. The 11-year-old was partnered for the first time by Darren Andrews, who had to work hard to see off the challenge of Hello George. The success marked the gelding’s ninth success between the flags.

Originally handled by David Kelly, the gelding was runner-up in his only Irish point run before transitioning to the track in the UK. Navanman found success on three occasions there for David Pipe before returning to pointing in 2017.

The Dean Summersby-trained Chosen Lucky recorded his fifth success at the Wadebridge course when scoring by eight lengths under Champion Devon & Cornwall Area rider Darren Edward, making that his 13th career success.

The son of Well Chosen began life with Wexford handler Shirley Berry back in 2016 when running in three Irish point-to-points.

Other ex-pointers successful on the day include Mustmeetforapint.

Sheriff Hutton, Yorkshire

The Dellercheckout, a former Cormac Doyle point-to-point graduate, who was last seen in Ireland in March 2017 when winning his maiden at Lismore, preserved his unbeaten record when landing Ladies Open race by eight lengths for Immy Robinson.

The son of Getaway had won in December at Barbury Castle and this former Paul Nicholls inmate looks like he could be a useful recruit to the pointing field after quickening away from last year's winner and favourite Haymount.

Another former Cormac Doyle inmate enjoyed success on the day, Classic Lady. The daughter of Flemensfirth is a recent graduate of the Monbeg Stables, having only made her debut in Ireland in October 2019 when placing third at Toomebridge.

This was the five-year-olds third time running in UK points and she won by a comfortable five lengths for Oliver Pimlott, who will now head to the sales with her.

Other ex-pointers successful on the day include Omar Maretti and Hazel Hill.