Joint-favourite Waxies Dargle, ridden for Noel Meade by Paul Townend, ploughed through the softening ground to land the €50,000 Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle, feature on the opening day of Killarney’s May meeting.

The first session of the two-day Kanturk-Duhallow point-to-point fixture at Dromahane took place on Saturday and Sam Curling’s Grand Gold indicated that he’s set for a particularly productive campaign by easily winning the four-mile ladies open in the hands of the Liz Lalor.

Eala Beag seems to be improving with practically every run.

Heavy overnight rainfall ensured that ground conditions were extremely demanding at yesterday’s Kildorrery point-to-point meeting, run under the auspices of the Duhallow Foxhounds on the Vaughan family’s lands at Rockmills Stud.

All roads led to Boulta for the annual Clonmult/Dungourney point-to-point fixture yesterday and the Denis Leahy-trained newcomer Hawkhurst produced a stunning debut victory in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

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-

Johnny King experienced mixed fortunes on Amateurs Day in Cork, completing a his first double on Winter Magic and Operating and being suspended for five days for using his whip with excessive frequency on his first winner.

Ground conditions were extremely demanding at yesterday’s Carbery Hunt point-to-point fixture at Kilpatrick outside Bandon.

There was some fantastic fare on offer at yesterday’s Limerick Harriers point-to-point fixture at Lemonfield, which was staged in aid of the JT McNamara fund.

‘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.

It may have well happened that those in attendance at yesterday’s Muskerry Foxhounds point-to-point meeting at Birch Hill witnessed the successful debut of a potential top-notch performer for Eugene O’Sullivan’s Shanahan’s Turn left many racegoers searching for previously unused superlatives following his stunning victory in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

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 Raymond Hurley-trained 2006 Cheltenham Foxhunter winner Whyso Mayo went down fighting on what was his final career race at yesterday’s Carbery Foxhounds Clonakilty point-to-point meeting on the picturesque Inchydoney Island when beaten two and a half lengths into second spot by Kaitlin’s Fancy in a vintage renewal of the open lightweight.

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 Ward Union Hunt point-to-point returned after a 38-year absence to The Folly outside the village of Oldtown in north Co Dublin on Saturday.

TERENCE O’BRIEN, who trains at Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, had cause for a double celebration yesterday.

THE rescheduled Co Clare Hunt point-to-point took place at its traditional Belharbour venue in the Burren region of north Co Clare on Saturday and the Matthew Daly-trained newcomer Jimbill impressed by making a winning debut in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

EDDIE O’Connell is rapidly making a name for himself and the 5lb claimer was seen to very good effect on Royal Blood, who ran out a gutsy winner of the Carrick-on-Shannon Handicap Chase at Roscommon last night.

TOM TAAFFE’S Emotional Moment produced a smooth performance to land the Horse and Jockey Beginners ’Chase at Thurles yesterday. Clearly benefitting from his first run of the campaign at Punchestown, the six-year-old proved far too good for this opposition.

EDWARD O’GRADY and Norman Williamson continued their tremendous run when Windsor Boy justified hefty market support with a smooth success in the Comeragh Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

GOWRAN PARK, which has been hugely re-developed, threw open its gates to the press yesterday and three handlers, Michael Bowe, Willie Mullins and Frances Crowley availed of the opportunity to gallop some of their stars.

THE state of the surface was the main talking point at yesterday’s Anglo Irish Bank Handicap Chase meeting at Limerick.