Derrylin trainer David Christie looks the man to follow over the two days of racing at the Fermanagh point to point Festival on Friday and Saturday of this week. The local trainer who expects to have a large team of horses compete at his local track highlighted the stable's form when winning another open race at Sligo on Sunday with Rock On Tom partnered by Jamie Codd who will ride the majority of the Leginn House Stables runners at the meeting. David Christie who is currently in third place in the All Ireland trainers Championship told the Fermanagh Herald;
" I would expect to have 7 or 8 runners over the two days and hopefully a few winners. The Fermanagh meeting has now established itself as a high profile conclusion to the Ulster season and while my horses will run until next month, I want to support the Necarne event as much as possible." Top riders Jamie Codd and Derek O'Connor are currently tied on the 25 winner mark in the Ulster riders title battle while the pair also dominate the All Ireland riders title championship. Both riders will attempt to add to their tally at the local fixture with O'Connor the current title holder and All Ireland champion keen to retain the local regional title.
In a short life span the Fermanagh festival has rapidly established itself as a tourist attraction and the concluding fixture and climax of the point of point year in the province which runs from October until May." Killyhevlin Hotel owner Rodney Watson will be seeking repeat success with Lord Benson in the hunt cup race with the Vance family longstanding members of the organisers the Fermanagh Hunt certain to have a representative in their quest for another victory in the race with John Senior and Junior having registered multiple wins in the contest. Irish Champion lady rider Clare Mc Mahon will also be in action at the meeting and seeking to secure a third Irish champion lady rider title while the Fermanagh Festival riders title based on points over the two days will be sponsored by the Killyhevlin Hotel.
FERMANAGH HERALD HOPES -
FRIDAY EVENING
FIRST RACE - Derek O'Connor's mount.
FOURTH RACE FARLANDS
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
FIRST RACE - LORD BENSON
SECOND RACE - WINNING COUNSEL FOURTH RACE ROYAL RANGER
