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.

The Adrian Maguire-trained Gunner Fifteen had many of those present at yesterday’s marathon ten-race Inch point-to-point fixture searching for previously unused superlatives following his stunning debut victory with Declan Queally in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Ruby Walsh made a triumphant return to race-riding at Listowel yesterday, when driving long odds-on Rattan to a last-gasp success in the Kerrymaid Hurdle.

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.

The annual Inch point-to-point took place at its traditional Ballyanthony venue yesterday and, on a wind-swept afternoon that witnessed nine races, the Colin Bowe-trained Clondaw Knight (4/6) impressed by winning the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

In front of his local home crowd, Mikey O’Connor dominated yesterday’s marathon 10-race point-to-point fixture at Liscarroll by partnering no less than five winners.

THE Tuam Stars club and their status as a legendary GAA unit with magnificent footballers over the ages has an aura about it few clubs can match.

THE Carl Dore trained Rivazza indicated that he’s in line for a particularly fruitful campaign by gamely making all the running in the winners of two at yesterday’s Kilmoganny Harriers point-to-point outside Kilsheelan.

A FAMILY-RUN hotel in south Tipperary has been awarded a prestigious fourth star by the AA’s international hotel judges.

THE owners of Clonmel’s largest hotel are warning the town’s proposed €30 million flood relief scheme could have catastrophic consequences for their establishment and could “wipe it out”.