Derek O’Connor reaches landmark 1,000 point-to-point wins

The Cragmore track in Co Limerick was the location for a piece of racing history on Sunday when Derek O'Connor became the first jockey to ride 1,000 point-to-point winners in Ireland.

The 32-year-old Co Galway jockey reached the landmark figure on Death Duty in the opening race at the meeting. O'Connor later added to that with wins on Air Command and Kilty Caul. The latter is trained by Robert Tyner with whom the jockey has enjoyed a notably successful partnership in recent years.

“Thrilled”

“I’m thrilled to reach the milestone,” said O’Connor. “People have been so kind: there has been an unbelievable amount of well-wishers.”

O’Connor carried the colours of Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud on Death Duty, who won by 15 lengths.

Gigginstown’s racing manager, Eddie O’Leary, said: “Derek is a legend in his own game and I’m thrilled we were able to give him his 1,000th winner. He only has 3,300-odd more to catch Tony McCoy.”

In 2011, O'Connor broke his duck at the Cheltenham festival when Chicago Grey landed the four-mile National Hunt Chase and he completed a memorable double at that year's festival when Zemsky scored in the Foxhunters.

In other news, Little King Robin, as low as 10-1 in some lists for the Grade 1 OLBG Mares Hurdle on the opening day of Cheltenham, remains among the entries at Punchestown on Wednesday for a two-and-a-half-mile conditions hurdle.

The prolific Colin Bowe trained mare hasn't been seen in action since finishing third to Lieutenant Colonel in the Hattons Grace at Fairyhouse at the end of November, prior to which she had also finished third to Hurricane Fly in the Morgiana at Punchestown.

Little King Robin was a 100-1 shot in the Cheltenham race last year, finishing ninth as Quevega completed her historic festival six-in-a-row.

The reigning two-mile champion chaser Sire de Grugy could make an appearance at Chepstow on Saturday after unseating his jockey on his recent comeback at Newbury.

“He’s come out of the Newbury spill really well. We were disappointed with what he showed in the Game Spirit as he didn’t jump with his usual conviction or confidence,” said his trainer Gary Moore.

Below par

“In fact he did something similar when he ran below par at Aintree as a novice after a break. He blew up that day approaching three out and didn’t jump with his usual zest,” he added.