End-of-season awards confirmed as ceremony returns to popular Irish hotel

John Queally was crowned champion point-to-point rider during the 1980-81 season and celebrated the success at the inaugural awards ceremony held at the Hotel Minella in Clonmel. 

The event has gone from strength to strength in the intervening years to become one of the most established fixtures in the racing social diary.

Perhaps more important than that, it became a showcase for all that was worth celebrating each season. 

Top riders, horses, handlers, breeders and those who have contributed to the industry in a variety of ways have been able to bring family, friends and more to the awards to recognise their achievements. 

Celebrating success is vital to ensure we acknowledge key achievements for those who are top of each pile, while creating a bar for those who aspire to reach those heights in the future. 

Covid stalled the momentum of the awards. Whilst an enjoyable evening was held at relatively short notice for the 2022 awards at the Dunboyne Castle by the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee, it is encouraging that a date has been released for this year’s event on Saturday, June 10, to celebrate the achievements of the 2022-23 season. Hotel Minella, which has close ties to the sport, is once again the venue of choice.

John Nallen whose Hotel Minella will host awards ceremonyCredit: Patrick McCann

Hopefully, this event can again provide the end-of-season focus for many participants that it has in the past. It's an event worth supporting. 

The first select sale of 2023 takes place after racing at Cheltenham on Saturday. One small point, which may go almost unnoticed, is that whilst the vast majority of Irish point-to-point form horses are five-year-olds, there is in fact a four-year-old catalogued in the sale. 

J’Habite En France, who will enter the ring as lot 37, is consigned by Fran and Charlie Poste’s Station Yard stable, is a four-year-old who finished second at Sherriff Hutton in Britain on January 15 in a maiden race for four, five and six-year-olds. 

His conqueror on that occasion was a five-year-old who carried 11st 7lb, while this youngster was in receipt of a stone.

It's interesting that the Irish pointing system, which appears to be ahead of its British counterparts on many fronts when it comes to producing four-year-old maiden horses, does not allow them to run until the opening weekend in February. 

Looking at the trend of entries in recent years that has seen strong entries for fixtures right up to Christmas, only to be followed by a significant drop in January, it may be an idea to allow one or two maidens for four-year-olds in January to start the ball rolling. 

This would provide additional opportunities for considerable investment in this sphere, especially given the reduction in opportunities in May which is sure to penalise some when the time comes, particularly those in search of soft ground. 

Secondly, it may also provide some much-needed entries, and therefore revenue, for hunt committees who run a January fixture. 

As their gate is always going to be a challenge with the weather often proving unsuitable, entries are key to the survival of these fixtures. 

Given the British can run four-year-old point-to-pointers in January, whilst four-year-old bumpers also take place on the racecourse throughout this month — and indeed some are held in December for three-year-olds — it does seem as though the time has come to allow four-year-olds compete from the turn of the year.

Star performance

Wingmen clocked a time 18 seconds quicker than any other winner on the Ballycrystal card. He was the undoubted star of the show in testing conditions.

Weekend fixtures

Saturday

East Down (F) at Tyrella First race 12.00

Brain Power recorded his first success since the 2019 American National in the Open on this card 12 months ago. He now bids for back-to-back victories in the race having developed into one of the leading Open performers.

Sunday

United (F) Carrigtwohill at Ballyvodock First race 12.30

La Feline is a notable absentee from the line-up in the mares’ Open having been the dominant performer in that division for the past 12 months. Fort Worth Texas may take full advantage of her absence.

Stonehall (H) at Cragmore First race 12.30

The much-anticipated return of Winged Leader could be the star attraction on the day. The nine-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since being cruelly denied by Billaway in the closing stages of the St. James's Place Festival Hunter Chase at Cheltenham last year.

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