Well-supported Baden makes winning debut

Derek O’Connor showed just why he has won ten point-to-point riders’ championships by bringing the well-supported Ronnie O’Leary-trained newcomer Baden from well off the pace to oblige in a vintage second division of the four-year-old maiden at yesterday’s United Hunt Club point-to-point fixture at Bartlemy.

The French-bred grey Baden (7/2 – 5/2) always took the eye in running well off the pace as Minella Suite and Smartplan took the 12 runners along.

The eventual winner still had in the region of nine horses in front of him at the third last with Minella Suite now well and truly cranking up the pace in front. O’Connor though refused to panic and he brought Baden through on the wide outside to overtake Minella Suite inside the final 50 yards to score by three parts of a length.