From Constitution Hill to Banbridge, St Stephen's Day winners reinforced the importance of point-to-points
The winning return of Constitution Hill headlined a Christmas period to remember for point-to-point exports.
Unfortunately, Nicky Henderson’s remarkable seven-year-old has been generating more headlines over the past 13 months for his off-track setbacks than the all-conquering performances that we have become accustomed to witnessing from him.
However, he put that right on his first start in more than a year by defeating a new challenger in Lossiemouth to claim the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton for a third straight season. His former handler Warren Ewing came agonisingly close to enjoying a St Stephen’s Day across-the-card Grade 1 double, when another of his former charges, Better Days Ahead, came within a head of landing the spoils in the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
The fact the victory was snatched from him by a horse ridden by his son Sam will certainly have been compensation he was willing to accept.
For point-to-point supporters, the result was still a strong one, with Croke Park gaining his second top-level success of the season, adding to what proved to be a clean sweep of Grade 1s for point-to-point exports last Friday. All five races that were up for grabs were claimed by horses who had started their careers in a point-to-point maiden.
Banbridge followed in the footsteps of Hewick 12 months earlier in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, while there were also maiden Grade 1 victories for Potters Charm and The Jukebox Man.
That proved to be the icing on the cake of on a day that highlighted just how influential point-to-point form is in the jumps sector in both Britain and Ireland.
A total of 36 races on December 26 went to an ex-pointer, a record for the busiest day in the racing calendar, and it was followed 24 hours later by further Grade 1 success at Leopardstown for Romeo Coolio in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, while Val Dancer capped the day off in style in the Coral Welsh National.
There are many challenges for the sport, but results like those achieved last week reinforce the importance of action within the pointing fields around Ireland.
Weekend fixtures
Sunday
Ballindenisk, first race 12.30
Tinahely, first race 12.30
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Autumn schedule is proving just as fruitful in search for top-level horses
Come pointing! You've got a chance to see one of the game's modern-day icons in Winged Leader
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