As Lingstown turnout demonstrated, the unique discipline of banks races is thriving - long may it continue

Racing over banks preserves the link between the current iteration of point-to-pointing and its origins from a bygone era.

The discipline was formed around racing over natural obstacles across the country, but these have almost exclusively been replaced by portable, purpose-built jumps that are negotiated in all bar three of the likely 600-plus races that will be run this season.

Lingstown hosted the first of that trio of banks races last Sunday when, despite the challenging weather conditions, the enduring popularity of such obstacles was again on show.

Despite an unfortunate clash with the Risk Of Thunder Chase over the Punchestown cross-country course on the same afternoon, the contest drew the biggest field for an open race this season with 13 runners, outperforming those open races over conventional fences.

Once again the race proved what a great leveller races over banks courses can be, with the specialist performers coming to the fore.

Ian McCarthy’s Fountain House came out on top on his first step into open company, getting the better of Knockiel Synge, a horse last seen when beaten 24 lengths by Winged Leader in Portrush, as the finishing order from last season’s Ladies Cup was reversed.

It was a similar situation at Punchestown on the same afternoon, when Denis Murphy’s 95-rated mare Three By Two approached the final obstacle splitting two horses she was rated 54lb and 62lb inferior to.

Thankfully, the Killinick committee no longer has to singlehandedly shoulder the burden of keeping this tradition alive within the pointing arena, with a banks course having been constructed and introduced to much acclaim at Knockanard in 2023.

That has bolstered the opportunities for horses who ply their trade within this specialist category, and as last Sunday’s race in Lingstown highlighted, participation is growing, with these horses now having a path through the season up to the Punchestown festival.

Last season the PP Hogan was transferred from the Grand National Trial card at Punchestown, avoiding a clash with Knockanard, which is to be commended.

That allows the 2025 running of that race to take place a fortnight ahead of the Avondhu fixture, before they return to Lingstown in March prior to the spring festival in Kildare.

Long may the banks discipline continue to thrive.

Weekend fixtures

Sunday

Ballindenisk, first race 12.00
Borris House, first race 12.00

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