JAMIE CODD made a return to the winning circle at the Island Hunt point-to-point at Ballydarragh on Sunday last. Sidelined since early on in the season from a fall which resulted in a broken leg, Codd showed that he has lost little of his enthusiasm or ability when booting home a fine double, with 'Spanish Arch' and 'Backstage' both winning.

He still leads the Eastern Region's jockeys' title with eleven winners, putting him in fourth place in the national title race. No doubt Codd is glad to be back and many owners and trainers will be happy that his services can be called on again.

AINTREE ENTRIES

The entries for the Aintree Grand National were announced last week with the Grade 3 contest, run over four and a half miles, receiving 82 entries. The race is due to be run on April 14 and has 31 Irish-trained horses given an entry.

Unfortunately, there is no obvious local entry but the point-to-point world has seen three of the most prominent Irish horses winning at tracks in the county in the past three months. 'Backstage', trained by Gordon Elliot in Co. Meath, won the Open Lightweight last weekend at the Island Hunt fixture in Ballydarragh, with 'Vic Venturi' taking the Open contest at the Wexford Foxhound meeting at Ballinboola on January 29. This horse is owned by Co. Kilkenny man Seamus Dunne and trained by Dessie Hughes on The Curragh.

At the same track but back in November of 2011, Ted Walsh took the Open Lightweight with 'Seabass', trained at Kill, Co. Kildare. All three of these horses are entered, but with only 40 allowed to run on the day it is unclear if they will all get a run.

That said, it is fair testament to the high quality of the Open Lightweight contests held locally that three winning point-topointers could well run in and feature prominently in this year's renewal of the world's most famous steeplechase.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Conor O'dwyer may well have a nice young horse in his care following the success of 'Folsom Blue' at Clonmel on Thursday. The five-year-old son of 'Old Vic' easily took the Listed Novice Hurdle in the hands of Davy Russell and in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud.

This horse looks to me like a 'festival' horse and the son of the mare, 'Spirit Leader', could add to her already wellestablished pedigree page.

This meeting at Clonmel also saw the return of Seán Flanagan, with the Palace East man winning on the Laurence Butlertrained 'Odonimee', an eight-year-old 'Idris' mare, in the beginners' steeplechase. Flanagan had spent the last while riding in Britain but it is good to see him winning again.

Daryl and Willie Deacon just cannot be stopped and the father and son team won on the track with 'Amber Knight' at Down Royal on Wednesday. This home-bred nine-year-old son of 'Rudimentary' got to the front on the run-in to win under Chris Maxwell. Full use was made of the horse's low weight and he looks like a horse that can win again.

On the same card, Declan Bates scored another winner for Philip Rothwell when 'Mark Me Up' took the novice handicap hurdle in the colours of Niamh Deegan. This seven-year-old son of 'Mark of Esteem' was ridden off the pace but came through to win comfortably.

BETWEEN THE FLAGS

Ballindaggin man Barry O'neill, who sits in second place on the 16-winner mark behind Derek O'connor in the national title race, had a nice winner at the East Down Foxhound meeting on January 28 at Tyrella. Riding for the North of Ireland yard of David Christie, O'neill won very snugly on 'Subaroo Blue' in the Winners of Two contest. This eight-year-old son of 'Insatiable', bred by Seán Osborne, won impressively.

The North Tipperary Foxhound meeting at Nenagh saw 21-year-old Michael Roche record another winner, this time with 'Knocksquire'. Owned, bred and trained by Daryl and Willie Deacon from Courtnacuddy, the 'Revoque' seven-year-old gelding was well handled by Roche to win.

On the same day in Co. Cork for the United Foxhound meeting at Carrigtwohill, Myles Sunderland sent out 'Dominetta Vitali' to take the mares' maiden. Trained in Castlebridge by Sunderland, this six-yearold 'Beneficial' mare ran on stoutly to win in the hands of Ciarán Fennessy.

DIARY DATES

Racing: February 9, Thurles; February 10, Dundalk (e); February 11, Naas; February 12, Leopardstown; February 15, Fairyhouse; February 16, Clonmel; February 17, Dundalk (e); February 18, Gowran Park; February 19, Navan. Point-to-point: February 11, North Down (F); February 12, Avondhu (F), Kildare (F), Stonehall (H).

- With DICK WHITE