Westerner Point and Philip Enright win the Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle© Photo Healy Racing
A dual winner of the big Grade B handicap chase at Limerick at Christmas Westerner Point (10s into 9s) today got it done in the Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle.
Second in this race in 2017 and now a 12 time winner overall, the ten-year-old had regular jockey Phillip Enright aboard again on this occasion.
A great servant for the Thade Quill Syndicate and trainer Eoghan O’Grady, Westerner Point was securing a second Powerstown Park win, having landed a maiden hurdle here in March 2015.
Dour stayer Cloudy Morning looked like he might be hard to pass from before the straight.
However Westerner Point was also travelling well at that point and he eventually beat Mary Frances and Cloudy Morning by a length and the same.
"We were nearly running out of years (to win again over hurdles)! The ground was too quick for him the last day, there were hurdles omitted and today suited better," said O'Grady.
"He might go for a veterans' race in England on his next start. There are three of them coming up at Warwick, Leicester and Kelso and there is a final of that series in January which is worth a few pounds.
"He is too high for the veterans' race at Limerick but he'll be ok for the 0-150 veterans' final in England. This is his time of year."
J.J. Slevin, rider of High Sparrow trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount slipped up independently on the home turn.
The Stewards requested a report from Eoghan O'Grady, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Westerner Point, placed first, as compared with its recent form.
The trainer reported that in the race at Galway, his charge made a mistake at the first and never really recovered, especially with some of the hurdles bypassed due to low sun.
He also stated that the softer ground today and the step up to three miles suited his charge.
Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the explanation offered.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Envol Pierji (FR), trained by Miss Elizabeth Doyle, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be blowing hard post race.
(TW & EM)
