Two More Four-Year-Old Winners By Crystal Ocean

Crystal Ocean’s impressive start in Irish point-to-points continued over the weekend with a pair of debut winners in four-year-old maidens.

The Cormac Doyle-trained Freshers Week (4g Crystal Ocean – Ouro Verde, by Presenting) was first to oblige at Taylorstown on Saturday. Sent off joint-favourite under Darragh Higgins, he led from three out and kept on well on the run-in to prevail by a neck on the line.

Bred by Seamus McKeogh, Freshers Week will now be sold, as will Sunday’s Rathcannon winner Crystal Island (4g Crystal Ocean – Je T’Aime, by Heron Island).

Eamonn Doyle’s newcomer was sent off favourite under Jamie Scallan and raced close to the pace throughout. The bay overcame signs of inexperience to go on and win by three and a half lengths for his breeder Kieran Cotter, son-in-law of renowned judge Demi O’Byrne, who is fresh from Grand National success as the breeder of Nick Rockett (Walk In The Park).