United Foxhounds point-to-point meeting at Ballindenisk was a huge success and a great day out

There was a fabulous atmosphere at Sunday’s United Foxhounds point-to-point meeting at Ballindenisk and, on an afternoon that saw a minute’s silence observed in memory of the fixture’s long-standing secretary Dan Kisssane, who died a few weeks earlier.

Bartlemy-based handler Garrett Ahern struck with the admirably consistent Mount Rinjani in the five-year-old and upwards confined hunt maiden.

The six-year-old Mount Rinjani (5/4), who was placed second on three previous occasions this term, disputed the running in this four-runner contest until edging into a narrow advantage from the penultimate of the 12 obstacles. 

The victorious son of Mount Nelson was the faster away from the last and he stylishly asserted on the flat with his Rathcormac-based owner Patrick Pyne’s grandson Jack Collins, a Leaving Cert student at St Colman's College in Fermoy, to beat Owbeg Sunshine by a comprehensive two lengths.

Handler Ahern disclosed of Mount Rinjani.

“He’s a very consistent horse that has been knocking on the door and he’s always bouncing the morning after a race. Jack [Collins] gave him a great ride.“ 

Dungourney rider Brian Dunleavy continued his terrific season by combining with south Co Wexford-based handler Darragh Berry to collect the second division of the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard Anyoneforsnacks (3/1). 

A creditable third to Adonedeal on his previous start at this same venue two weeks earlier, Anyonefosnacks disputed the running and he then went for home from two out to see off Mitchelstown-based handler Danny O’Sullivan’s Jetovango by one and a half lengths.

Handler Berry’s representative Johnny Roche remarked of Anyoneforsnacks.

“He’s has been unlucky and he has just taken a bit of time. He’ll now hopefully be on the boat in the morning for the Goffs UK sale in Doncaster on Wednesday.“ 

Barry O’Neill won the Dan Kissane Memorial Cup for the meeting’s leading rider as he partnered three winners throughout the course of the afternoon and the Co Wexford native experienced the best possible start to proceedings by landing the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden aboard the Jonathan Fogarty-trained Time To Give (4/1). 

The Blue Bresil-sired Time To Give, a creditable third on her Dromahane debut in early April, made all the running. 

Whilst losing some momentum before the last, Time To Give still readily picked up from this final fence to thwart Ciaran Fennessy’s Hello Johnjoe by two and a half lengths.

Both of reigning point-to-point champion rider O’Neill’s remaining winners were provided by Colin Bowe with the pair initially combining to collect the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden courtesy of Axel Bleue (5/2). 

The British-bred Axel Bleue picked up the running two out and he stormed clear before the last to dismiss Affinaka by a widening eight lengths.

Rider O’Neill remarked of Axel Bleue.

“He’s a lovely horse and he made a mistake when finishing fourth with me in Fairyhouse three weeks ago. He should develop into a nice horse for the summer.“ 

O’Neill was back in the coveted number one slot following the authoritative success of Bowe’s Practice Run (7/1) in the winners of one. 

Ex hurdler Practice Run, having done well to survive a second-fence error, made his way to the front at the penultimate obstacle and the result wasn’t in the slightest doubt thereafter as he strode clear to contain Barton Sky by seven lengths. 

It’s possible that the six-year-old Practice Run will run again next weekend before being offered at the Tattersalls Ireland point-to-point/horses in training sale at Fairyhouse on Thursday May 29th.

The closest finish of the day came in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden as owner/trainer Jim O’Neill’s Connies Hill (9/2) showed the necessary improvement from her third-placed Durrow debut effort in late March by leading from two out and then staying on best for Jack Hendrick in the closing stages to eclipse promising first-timer Something Fabulous by three parts of a length.

On an excellent afternoon for the Wexford-trained horses, Cormac Doyle’s Jewel Hope (6/1) led from after four out with Sean Staples in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden and he was containing his closest pursuer Classic Dance when Brian Lawless’ mount fell at the final fence. 

Jewel Hope, who pulled up on his Curaghmore debut on Easter Snday, was then left clear to dispose of Legend De Touchette by 25 lengths.

Cormac Doyle’s elder brother Sean Doyle was on the mark with newcomer Royale Rocker (3/1) in the second split of this same contest. 

The Getaway-sired Royale Rocker stormed to the head of affairs approaching the second-last to repel Mon Sheriffe by three lengths in the hands of Jamie Scallan.

The 2024/25 season concludes next Sunday with the Clonakilty meeting which taking place on Inchydoney Island (1pm start).