Come pointing! You've got a chance to see one of the game's modern-day icons in Winged Leader
It has been quite the journey with Winged Leader for his owners, Portrush hoteliers John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane, and Fermanagh handler David Christie.
The son of Winged Love has been the horse of a lifetime for connections and his quest for a place in the history books could continue this weekend. Having risen through the ranks within the pointing division to become a leading hunter chaser, he suffered an agonisingly cruel defeat by Billaway in the dying strides of the 2022 hunter chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
With the exception of a rare below-par showing over the National fences in the following year’s Aintree Foxhunters, his outings since then have almost exclusively been confined to the pointing fields, where he has utterly dominated. Nine consecutive victories through the spring, from Farmacaffley in late February through to Taylorstown in mid-May, secured the champion point-to-point horse crown for the ten-year-old.
Somewhat surprisingly, since that title was first introduced in 2012, no winner has been able to repeat the feat. While it is still far too early to discuss potential title contenders for this season, Winged Leader has certainly been able to maintain his form into the new campaign following the summer break.
The remarkably consistent performer is one of just two horses to have won three races this season, extending his winning sequence in 2024 to 12 consecutive victories. As a result, he could take his career tally between point-to-points and hunter chases to 30 wins if he adds the ladies' open at Moig South on Sunday to his list of victories.
Perhaps most significant of all, this run of successes in 2024 sees him entering the realms of point-to-point greats. With an incredible 25 point-to-point victories, Winged Leader now sits at number six in the all-time list, having already gone past Annie Sue and Any Crack with his successes this term.
Ahead of him are Arctic Times (28), Ah Whisht and Corryvreckan (29), Under Way (30) and finally Still William (33).
If any encouragement were needed to go point-to-pointing, the chance to see one of the sport’s modern-day heroes is surely a big draw.
Weekend fixtures
Saturday
Boulta, first race 12.30
Sunday
Lingstown, first race 12.30
Moig South, first race 12.30
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Published on inIrish point-to-point
Last updated
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- Go north – first open hunter chase at Down Royal will again be a big pointer to the season ahead
- Autumn schedule is proving just as fruitful in search for top-level horses
- As Lingstown turnout demonstrated, the unique discipline of banks races is thriving - long may it continue
- Public or private? Trade at Cheltenham on Friday will signal which way the trend is going this season
- Busy tracks like much-loved Dromahane are becoming increasingly important to pointing scene