Golden Rain lights up season opener

The 2012/13 point-to-point season got under way at Rathcannon on Saturday with the County Limerick Hunt’s Bruff meeting and Tyrone Golden Rain lit up the meeting for many by destroying the opposition in the eight-runner open lightweight.

Partnered by Derek O’Connor for his brother Paurick, Tyrone Golden Rain (evens) was patiently ridden as Glantara cut out the running. The eventual winner, runner-up in this same race two years ago, eased into pole position at the penultimate of the 12 obstacles and he duly asserted to beat Cathy Harrison’s mare Hang On Groovy by an unchallenged eight lengths on an afternoon that incidentally saw all seven winners arriving from off the pace.

“This horse wasn’t quite right last year and he will be a grand fun horse for this season,” said owner/handler Paurick O’Connor of Tyrone Golden Rain, who was recording his tenth points success.