Red Letter Day for Adrian Browne who rides his first winner at Ballyvodock Point to Point

THE annual Pigeon Hill and Carrigtwohill point-to-point fixture took place at Ballyvodock on Sunday.

22-year-old Adrian Browne, who hails from just four miles away from the course at Cloneen outside Carrigtwohill, returned to a rapturous reception on recording a very first career success aboard his father Don Browne’s West Of Carrig in the winners of two.

The seven-year-old West Of Carrig (5/2 – 9/4), an ex-track performer that finished second on his two autumn starts at Boulta, edged ever closer from off the pace after a mile and he picked up the running at the sixth last of the 13 obstacles. 

The victorious son of Westerner edged into a commanding advantage from four out and, jumping assuredly, he was well in command from the penultimate obstacle as he maintained a searching gallop to account for this season’s dual scorer Saffron Hill by an unchallenged eight lengths.

“It'’s great to win at our local meeting and you couldn’t ask for any better,“ said the younger Browne, who was virtually mobbed by well-wishers. 

“I ride him out every morning and he will probably now go for a winners race.“ 

The locals has further cause for celebration as Terence O’Brien, one of the mainstays of this particular meeting, saddled well-supported newcomer Dream On Daddy (11/4 – 2/1) to land a competitive renewal of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. 

Dream On Daddy, a son of Mahler, went to the front three out and he stayed on stoutly in the closing stages to deny Minella Post by a half-length in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

“I was hoping for a performance like that as he had been doing everything right at home,“ disclosed handler O’Brien of the Denis O’Connor-owned Dream On Daddy. 

“He will probably now be sold.“ 

Dream On Daddy’s rider Darragh Allen went on to partner two winners as he filled in for Clodagh McAuliffe, who sustained a first fence fall in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden, by returning to the coveted number one slot aboard Castlelyons-based handler Rodger Sweeney’s Sean Says (7/1) in the mares’ open.

Sean Says, a former four-time track victress that recorded her most recent success in a two and a half mile Wexford handicap hurdle in September 2022, led from the second last to see off Maid On The Moon by two and a half lengths.

Handler Sweeney, who of course sampled Cheltenham festival success with Salsify, remarked of Sean Says: “Darragh [Allen] gave her a very good ride. 

"The point-to-points have freshened her up and she will probably now run in another point.“ 

Johnny Barry likewise partnered two winners and the Conna native will have attained immense satisfaction from his success aboard Castle Croiuil (11/4) in the closing six-year-old and upwards maiden as the victorious son of Walk In The Park is trained by his mother-in-law Jeannette Riordan.

The seven-year-old Castle Croiuil, who was lying a close second when cruelly unseating at the final fence on his debut at Ballindenisk in December, made smooth progress inside the final half-mile to lead approaching the final fence to dispose of ex track performer Malinas Glory by three lengths.

Mrs Riordan reported: “He was unlucky on his first start in Ballindenisk and he has had a few little interruptions along the way. 

"It’s great that Johnny [Barry] rode him today and he’ll now go for a winners race.“ 

Barry instigated his brace aboard the Micheal Griffin-trained Mystical Goddess (6/4 – evens) in the five-year-old mares’ maiden, much to the dismay of the 10 bookmakers present. 

The Walk In The Park-sired Mystical Goddess, an own-sister to Lucinda Russell’s Grade 2 placed novice chaser Giovinco, atoned for getting carried out at the fifth-last on her debut at Cragmore the previous Sunday by arriving from well off the pace to lead just after the last to beat Handfulofpromises by a widening two lengths.

“She has always shown plenty and most of her family have needed that little bit of time,“ said Knockacool-base handler Griffin of his brother Colm’s homebred Mystical Goddess. 

“She’s more of a track mare and she could now be sold.“ 

Inchigeelagh native Niall Kelleher sent out Nothingtodowwithyou (5/1)to collect a somewhat grief-stricken five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden for novice riders. 

The five-year-old Nothingtodowithyou, who finished ninth at Aghabullogue three weeks earlier, assumed command at the second-last to thwart Pike Road by two and a half lengths. 

Nothingtodowithyou was incidentally providing 23-year-old Patrick Gleeson from Knocklong, who rides out with both Sam Curling and Liam Cusack, with a second points success.

The action moves to Tallow next Sunday for the West Waterford Foxhounds annual meeting at Shanakill Cross, Conna (1 pm start).