Westerner makes his Point back over hurdles

Westerner Point has proved a grand servant to connections, and took advantage of an attractive mark over hurdles to record his eighth career win in the UCC Don’t Step On The Crest Handicap Hurdle at Cork.

The Eoghan O’Grady-trained gelding was making it four wins since November but is better known as a chaser and recorded his biggest success to-date in the Tim Duggan Memorial at the Limerick Christmas meeting.

His hurdle mark of 105 compares very favourably to his current chase rating of 134, and those who sent him off the 6/4 favourite had few worries.

Phillip Enright ’s mount travelled well to lead three out, and he just needed to be pushed out on the run-in to beat Captainofthefleet by two and three quarter lengths. Rue Hill could find no extra before the last to finish a further 12 lengths away in third.

O'Grady said, "He jumped well, stayed and settled well today.

"It happened a bit easier for him over three miles today than the last day over hurdles where he might have been taken off his feet (at Thurles).

"If the ground dries up, he won't run again this season. He has been a great servant and it's been a great week for us."

The locally based trainer also won the valuable Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase with Mick The Jiver at Navan on Sunday.

(TW & AM)