The rescheduled Duhallow hunt point-to-point went ahead on Saturday last having been postponed six days earlier due to high winds. With such a large entry (178) multiple divides were always going to be order of the day and so it was as 93 beasties fulfilled their engagement which resulted in eight races.

Derek O’Connor moved onto the 62 winner mark for the season to date by virtue of recording a treble here with each of his winners being supplied by a different trainer. O’Connor and trainer Diarmuid Ryan teamed up to somewhat luckily land the mares Winners of Two with recent Kilworth score Sing A New Song.

The 8/1 shot looked destined for fifth spot before two out, but at this likely winner Windy Millie (7/2-9/4) crashed out badly hampering Catalan Cruz who subsequently unseated and in turn brought both Three Oscars and Hill Rock to a complete standstill. As a result of this meelee Derek O’Connor steered a clear route with Sing A New Song and the 7 year old progeny of Kings Theatre went onto score by 2L from the luckless Three Oscars. Despite some very indifferent fencing the now 13 year old Priests Leap ran out a very convincing winner of the five runner Open Lightweight.

O’Connor had the progeny of Luso in the front rank throughout and despite being joined four out by the jolly Boxing Along (5/4-EV), O’Connor again upped the tempo and this tactic quickly had the Paul Power partnered Boxing Along in trouble and beaten. From here the cheek piece sporting Priests Leap was in total control and the Robert Tyner trained 6/1 shot duly went on to score by 8L from Boxing Along. This winner puts Tyner on the 14 winner mark for the season.

The O’Connor treble was completed in the concluding Confined Maiden where he teamed up with his brother Paurick’s The Horse May Talk (5/2-9/2). The grey cheek pieced sporting progeny of Old Vic is not the easiest of riders as he tends to run in snatches, hang like a gate and generally act the maggot. However despite his quirks O’Connor got him to the head of affairs two out and from here the 8 year old kept on to score readily from 4/1 shot Connie’s Cross and James Carroll with 4L between the pairing at the death.

Last season’s champion novice rider Larry Murphy has struck up a successful partnership with trainer Pat Doyle in recent weeks and on Saturday the pairing struck again to score with 6/1 shot No More Heroes who cosily landed the second split of the opening 4 year old maiden. Murphy produced the progeny of Presenting with impeccable timing to hit the front between the last two obstacles and with a slick leap at the last he pulled right away to score by 5L from Battle Born (5-10) James Carroll.

ONE TO FOLLOW!!

Velocity Boy (William Murphy)

This 4 year old progeny of Westener was making his debut here. To his credit he shaped well making most to three out before greenness kicked in and he faded to finish fifth beaten 12 to 14L and granted nominal progression this fellow is one to keep onside.

4-year-old maiden Div 1

1 Milsean (P Power), 2 At Your Pearl (M J O’Connor), 3 Epic Approach (D O’Connor), 4 Killineer (M P Fogarty). Dist: 5L 4L 2L (13 ran) (V Halley).

4-year-old maiden Div 2

1 No More Heroes (L C Murphy), 2 Battle Born (J T Carroll), 3 Powerstown Dreams (J E Flynn) (11-2), 4 Fort Worth (K E Power). Dist: 5L 1L 4L (13 ran) (Pat Doyle).

5-year-old Mares Maiden

1 Jenny’s Surprise (J C Barry), 2 Perfect Promise (E P O’Brien) (11-2), 3 Corporate Box (C J Sweeney), 4 Hurricane Lauren (M J O’Connor). Dist: ½L 4L HD (18 ran) (Michael Hourigan).

5-year-old Geld Mdn Div 1

1 Guiding George (M J O’Connor), 2 Big Mike (B O’Neill), 3 Cusheen Bridge (R Deegan) (11-9), 4 Haughton’s Bridge (H Dunne) (11-9). Dist: 7L 15L 1L (13 ran) (Paul Gilligan).

5-year-old Geld Mdn Div 2

1 Hackets Folly (N J Redmond) (11-9), 2 Tulach An Iarainn (J T Carroll), 3 Brideberry (E P O’Brien) (11-9), 4 Hills of Donegal (J W Hannon). Dist: 4L 6L 3L (12 ran) (Willie Murphy).

WINNERS OF TWO (MARES)

1 Sing A New Song (D O’Connor), 2 Three Oscars (B O’Neill), 3 Hill Rock (B J Foley). Dist: 2L 1L (9 ran, only 3 fin) (Diarmuid Ryan).

OPEN LIGHTWEIGHT

1 Priests Leap (D O’Connor), Boxing Along (P Power), 3 Pocket Reader (Ms I Walsh) (11-0), 4 Mickey Blue Eyes (M J O’Connor). Dist: 8L ½L 6L (5 ran) (Robert Tyner).

CONFINED MAIDEN

1 The Horse May Talk (D O’Connor), 2 Connie’s Cross (J T Carroll), 3 Rockmills Lad (D Queally), 4 Call Me Newtown (D Bustin, D Bustin (11-9). Dist: 4L 5L HD (10 ran) (Paurick O’Connor).