The above video is footage taken from Cloyne Point to Point in 1997.
It was a good day for jockeys Paul Cashman, Enda Bolger and James Sheehan who all recorded doubles.
Paul Cashmans first winner came aboard Wayward Prince when beating Lucky Town and Enda Bolger in a thrilling finish in the Winners of One contest
Result:
1st Wayward Prince (P Cashman)
2nd Lucky Town (E Bolger)
3rd Hugo Henry (D Murphy)
Eoin Gallagher who now trains point to pointers in Cork won division two of the Winners Of One aboard Ross Quay.
Result
1st Ross Quay (E Gallagher)
2nd Teads Boreen (M Budds)
3rd Bella Brownie (N Fehily)
Former Champion Hunter Chaser Dixon Varner supplied Enda Bolger with his second winner of the afternoon when running out a 10 length winner of the Open.
Result
1st Dixon Varner (E Bolger)
2nd Harbour Leader (E Gallagher)
3rd Carry On Shoon (J Baraghry)
James Sheehan won the next on the card, the five year old and upwards geldings maiden (div 1) aboard Tullys Ball
Result
1st Tullys Bar (J G Sheehan)
2nd Persian Packer (D Murphy)
3rd Springford (N O’Neill)
Paul Cashman recorded his second winner of the meeting when As Sharp Again claimed divison 2 of the five year old and upwards geldings maiden in impressive fashion.
Former Irish Pointers posted a big performance under Paul Carberry in winning the Welsh Grand National. A Nenagh maiden winner on his debut he was trained by Colin Bowe to win his maiden although many may wonder why the Monbeg name which is associated with the Doyle brothers is attached to this horse. He was owned by Eamon Doyle and at that time Donnchadh Doyle was working with Bowe so both team Doyle and team Bowe can take real credit for producing this youngster who has gone on to win a Coral Welsh National.
Florida pearl, one of the most high profile horses to have begun his career in Irish points died on Saturday 5th May at the age of 20.
The son of Florida Son began his career by landing a Lismore 4yo maiden under Tony Costello in 1996. He went on to win 16 times under rules including 4 victories in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown. He amassed over £800,000 in prize money and was retired in 2004.
He has spent his retirement at the Irish National Stud who revealed recently that the star chaser had been put down.
The Stud released a statement which is included below:-
We are saddened to inform you that on the evening of May 5th 2012 a decision was made on veterinary advice to euthanize Florida Pearl.
The twenty-year-old gelding, in residence at the Irish National Stud for five years, was diagnosed with a condition known as haemangisarcoma, a word deriving from "malignant cancer of the blood vessels". It is a rare condition which swiftly affects many organs once it spreads from its primary focus - in this case it originated in the spleen.
Florida Pearl was a firm favourite among visitors to the INS and earned his retirement after a career which contained Grade 1 wins in seven seasons. One of the greatest steeplechasers we have seen, his speed was also obvious in his Cheltenham Championship bumper success.
Out thanks and sympathies go to the O'Leary family and the Mullins family who have many memories to treasure.
