Clonakilty point to point on Inchydoney Island is a perfect way to end the season

The 25th anniversary Clonakilty point-to-point fixture, staged under the auspices of the Carbery Foxhounds, took place on Inchydoney Island on Sunday.

The locals had plenty of cause for celebration in the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden as Ray Hurley’s Ask Jeruflo returned to the coveted number one slot in the hands of talented five lbs claimer Michael Kenneally.

The nine-year-old Ask Jeruflo (3/1), who finished fourth on his comeback effort at Dawstown on May 5th, was always positioned close to the pace and he overtook long-time leader D Journey Man approaching the third-last of the 15 obstacles. 

Cooleagh held every chance approaching the last, but Ask Jeruflo was in no mood to be denied and he asserted on the flat to beat Andrew Kennedy’s mount by one and a half lengths.

“Michael [Kenneally] gave him a lovely ride and we told him to go down the inner,“ reported handler Hurley, who trains just four miles from the course in Letter outside Clonakilty, of Ask Jeruflo whom Jenny Moore owns in partnership with him. 

“He likes nice ground and jumps well, we might go over fences with him now at some stage.“ 

Lombardstown amateur Alan O’Sullivan kept his supporters happy by combining with Harry Kelly to collect the winners of two aboard Mickey Hulie (4/1). 

Runner-up Theatrical Getaway appeared to make the decisive move by edging ahead after two out, but Mickey Hulie was getting closer the whole time and the victorious five-year-old surged to the fore on the flat to oblige by three parts of a length with a similar margin back to favourite Practice Run in third.

“We came here hoping that he would win and we’ll give hm a break now before going over hurdles, that’s provided that he’s not sold,“ said handler Kelly of Mickey Hulie, owned and bred by John Nicholson from Johnstown in Kilkenny.

Rider O’Sullivan was fancied by many to complete a double aboard the Robert Tyner-trained favourite Chiroqui Princess in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, but the market-leader was beaten a half-length into second spot by Willie Murphy’s newcomer Monfin Girl (13/2) in what was the closest finish of the afternoon. 

The six-year-old Monfin Girl came from well off the pace with Pa King to lead from two out and she stuck determinedly to her task in the closing stages to edge out Chiroqui Princess with Robert Moloney’s Miss Chipley more than acquitting herself by returning a further two lengths adrift in third.

Carlow-based owner/trainer Murphy disclosed of the Westerner-sired Moyfin Girl.

“She is a good, staying mare that probably wants the ground a bit softer.“ 

Willie Murphy certainly had an afternoon to savour as he was also on the mark with Boley Bob (8/1), the mount of Patrick Gleeson, in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. 

Boley Bob stepped forwards from his most recent eighth-placed effort at Quakerstown on Easter Sunday by leading or disputing the running from the outset and he got on top from the last to account for Aberfeldy by a widening three lengths.

“It has just taken a while for the penny to drop with him and maybe, the better ground also helped. 

"His dam Robyns Pride also finished second here at Inchydoney back in 2010,“ remarked Murphy of Boley Bob, who was fitted with cheekpieces here.

Handler Sean Doyle likewise sent out two winners and he initially stuck with Shinealight in the four-year-old maiden, a race in which just three runners went to post. 

The previous Sunday’s Tattersalls debut fifth Shinealight (evens) led from three out and she was left to come home alone when Eagle River, who was some two and a half lengths adrift in second at the time, fell two out.

It was Sean Staples that partnered Shinealight and the Wexford amateur was likewise aboard Doyle’s remaining winner Fiyero (3/1) in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. 

Fiyero, having come a most pleasing sixth on his Bartlemy debut two weeks earlier, always travelled well and he moved through to challenge three out. 

Having secured the faster leap at the second-last, the winning son of Getaway then made his way home from this penultimate obstacle to thwart long-time leader Boy Of Montego Bay by two lengths.

Fiyero will now be offered at this coming Thursday’s Tattersalls Ireland sale at Fairyhouse which commences at 1pm.

This was the final meeting of the current point-to-point season and the 2025/26 campaign will get under way in early October.