Going green - Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's point-to-point support another endorsement of the sector's educational benefits

When Green Style crossed the line to record a three-length winning debut at Oldcastle last Sunday, he was the second four-year-old maiden winner within the space of a fortnight for handler Ross Crawford. 

Ross is a brother of the dual Grade 2-winning Larne trainer Stuart and what was notable about both of his winners was that the pair ran in the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. That ‘double green’ ownership duo are leading owners in Ireland, Britain and France, and the pair have had a notable presence within the pointing sphere in recent weeks.

Green Hint was a first double green runner for Crawford when the son of Crystal Ocean made a winning debut at Daramona House in mid-March, while he also sent out Green Chef to finish third in the auction maiden on the same card at the Westmeath venue. The Munir-Souede combination has a well-established association with Stuart Crawford, so it is not surprising to see them now have a number of youngsters in training with his brother. 

However, this year we have also seen Pat Doyle saddle a winner in their distinctive silks. Le Frimeur was the first point runner the Tipperary handler had saddled for them when he made a winning debut at Nenagh. 

Of course, Munir and Souede are not the only leading ownership outfit to see the benefit that comes with an early education within the point-to-point academy. Gigginstown House Stud led the way in this regard, with their colours successful in 109 point maidens in a 15-year spell between 2004 and 2019, with 82 of these in four-year-old maidens.

Since then, Brian Acheson and JP McManus have also followed suit. Air Of Entitlement, a winner for Acheson at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, is one such example, having won a four-year-old mares’ maiden in Acheson’s own colours at Lingstown in December 2023 when with Colin Bowe.

McManus’s green and gold silks have become a far more frequent presence between the flags since Derek O’Connor turned much of his attention to training. The record-breaking rider currently has a hunter certificate for 25 of McManus’s four-year-olds, which is a further ringing endorsement from some of the sport’s leading owners for the merits of a point-to-point education.

Weekend fixtures

Saturday

Taylorstown, first race 1pm

Sunday

Castletown-Geoghegan, first race 1pm

Dromahane, first race 1pm

Rathcannon, first race 1pm

Read more here: 

Cheltenham Festival winners evidence Irish circuit remains a fertile source of future jumping stars 

Two runners-up for me but the Cheltenham Festival acted as a great advert for Irish point-to-pointers 

Doyle hoping Belclare newcomers can follow in footsteps of Supreme fancy Romeo Coolio 

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