The Golden Vale Foxhounds point-to-point took place at Glenbane outside Holycross on Saturday and the Pat Doyle-trained Indy Five made amends for his unfortunate final fence mishap when well in command at Rathcannon last month by landing the opening four-year-old maiden-

Willie Mullins’ Champagne Fever made an excellent seasonal debut at Clonmel yesterday when landing the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase with the minimum of fuss.

Ruby Walsh retained his unbeaten record since his lengthy absence when partnering Old Castletown to an all-the-way win in the opening maiden hurdle in Tramore yesterday.

Champion-jockey Joseph O’Brien tasted success for the first time at the annual meeting on the beach at Laytown yesterday when partnering Sister Slew to victory for Gordon Elliott in the Marquees Nationwide Claiming Race.

‘Corky’ Carroll certainly had an afternoon to savour at yesterday’s well-attended second session of the two-day Kinsale point-to-point at Farrangalway for he partnered three winners.

Evanna McCutcheon has built up a tremendous rapport with her own horse Long Strand of late and the pair recorded their fifth success of the season in the open lightweight at the North Kerry Harriers point-to-point fixture outside Ballybunion on Saturday.

Gordon Elliot is well on his way to winning the point-to-point handlers’ championship and the Co Meath-based operator sent out two winners at the rescheduled Brosna Foxhounds meeting outside Tullamore on Saturday afternoon.

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.

Noel Meade and Paul Carberry completed a near 110/1 double with North Star Lad and chasing debutant Dark Prospect in Downpatrick yesterday.

The North Kerry Harriers staged their annual Ballybunion point-to-point fixture on Saturday evening and Carrigtwohill owner/trainer Don Browne’s Cloneen Storm (11/10) lit up the seven-race session for many by registering a gallant front-running success under a well-judged ride from James Hannon in the open lightweight.

Michael Halford, still en route from Singapore, where Invincible Ash was in Grade 1 action on Sunday, missed seeing Massiyn and Paddy The Celeb provide him with a double at Roscommon last evening.

The Robert Tyner-trained Embracing Change is virtually unbeatable at Dromahane and the seven-year-old recorded his fifth victory at the popular north Cork venue at yesterday’s Kanturk – Duhallow meeting by destroying the opposition in a vintage renewal of the open.

Absent for two years since winning a novice hurdle at the 2012 Punchestown Festival, Arvika Ligeonniere made a hugely impressive return to action and chasing debut in the Punchestown For Events Beginners Chase at Punchestown yesterday.

Tony McCoy’s visits to Ireland aren’t always the most successful, but he took his total for the two days at Fairyhouse to four when guiding Get Me Out Of Here to a smooth success in the Keelings’ Irish Strawberry Hurdle, before powering Alderwood to victory in the Rathbarry and Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle.

SAINT GERVAIS, a dual bumper winner who has proved a trifle disappointing since launched over flights, got his act together with a smooth victory in the two miles plus Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

QUARRYVALE, trained by Jimmy Mangan and partnered by his son, Patrick, ran her rivals ragged in the Tote Placepot Races 1 To 6 Chase at Thurles yesterday.

CHINA ROCK justified strong market support when comprehensively getting the better of Sizing Europe in the Star ‘Best For Racing Coverage’ Chase at Punchestown.

CHARLES Byrnes struck at the double last night, registering an across the card brace with Cyborg at Bellewstown and Alfa Beat at Wexford.

THE Dermot Weld bandwagon rolled on relentlessly at Limerick last night when Precious Gem, carrying the colours of his mother, Marguerite, landed the Martin Molony Stakes.

EDWARD O’GRADY ran two in the Metal Man Novice Hurdle at Tamore yesterday and they totally dominated the finish.

THERE were no less than 12 races and 168 runners at Saturday’s rescheduled Kildare Hunt point-to-point meeting at Punchestown racecourse and Jamie Codd had an afternoon to savour with a whopping five winners.

DREAMY Gent made an impressive chasing debut in the Martin Tyrrell Auctioneers Beginners Chase at Ballinrobe last night.

OWNER John Brennan, on the mark at Ballybrit with Cuan Na Grai in the Galway Hurdle and twice with Diego Garcia, completed a memorable week when the Willie Mullins-trained Man On The Nile ran away with the Mallow Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

Pat Keane

SOLERINA, returning from a two months break and backed from 4-6 to 1-2, ran her rivals ragged to land the John Harney Bookmaker Race at Tipperary last night.

RORY CLEARY, fresh from finishing top flat jockey jockey at the Galway Festival, was on the mark again at Tipperary last night when guiding Nic’s Colleen to a smooth success in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.

NATIVE UPMANSHIP duly landed his third MacLochlainn Road Markings Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles yesterday, but not before Conor O’Dwyer had given odds-on punters severe palpitations.