Friendless Pointer foils the gamble

Point Piper completed a first and last race double for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien as he took the finale at Leopardstown, the Compass Group Ireland Maiden.

Encountering quick ground for the first time, the son of Giant’s Causeway raced in third before he was ridden to challenge entering the straight.

He hit the front a furlong out and he was driven out from there, asserting in the final 100 yards to score by two and three parts of a length.

The winner was 5/1 this morning with Paddy Powers but was friendless in the betting and went off at 10/1.

He is out of Imagine, who won the 1000 Guineas at the Curragh in 2001 before she followed up in the Epsom Oaks. Shouranour finished second at 10/3 for John Oxx and Declan McDonogh while the gambled on Harpist could only manage a disappointing third for David Wachman and Wayne Lordan.

She was 100/30 this morning but opened on track at just 5/4 before being backed into 9/10 favouritism at the off.