Clonmel hotelier John Nallen has experienced a terrific run of success with his charges in point-to-points this season and the owner/trainer struck once more with newcomer Minella Friend in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden at yesterday’s Killeady Harriers meeting at Dromahane.

With ground conditions extremely testing at yesterday’s Doneraile Hunt point-to-point meeting at Dromahane, it was a case of the best wine being left until last as the Mark Spillane-trained Lanespark cemented his position as one of the best front-runners, participating in points, at present by recording a pillar-to-post success in the closing novice riders’ open.

Paul Cashman appears to have an outstanding prospect on his hands in the form of Hills Of Dubai who made a made a stunning winning debut in the opening four-year-old maiden at yesterday’s well-attended Tallow point-to-point fixture.

Colman Sweeney was the in-form rider at yesterday’s Clonmult/Dungourney meeting at Avaune with the former dual Cheltenham festival winning rider partnering a two-timer.

Declan Queally, younger brother of top flat jockey Tom, recorded the second racecourse double of his career (had a double at Limerick on January 25th) at Cork yesterday.

FEATURE event at Cork yesterday was the Imperial Call Chase, but this was a Grade 3 in name only after a really pathetic response by trainers.

THE 2010/11 point-to-point season came well and truly alive at yesterday’s well-attended Lisgoold meeting, which was staged on a new left-handed course at Leadington.

IT’s a long way from Banbridge in Co Down to Clonmel, but it paid off for trainer, Jerry Cosgrave, when his Dick Naylor won the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

A SPLENDID four-year-old gelding, Woodfield Indy, won the ridden hunter championship at the 92nd Dungarvan Show for Rosemary Connors, Woodstown, Co Waterford.

EDWARD O’GRADY went to Aintree yesterday to supervise Ned Kelly’s bid for glory in the John Smith’s Foxhunters Chase.

THE progressive Chomba Womba dug deep to land the Dawn Omega EBF Mares Novice Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

RUBY WALSH is right on target to land another jockeys’ championship.

THE progressive Celestial Wave and Nina Carberry proved an irresistible combination in the Dawn Omega Milk EBF Mares Novice Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

MICHAEL HOURIGAN went through an agonising twenty minutes or so at Cork on Saturday.