3 half-brothers put their mark on pointing weekend That a breeder would be responsible for three point-to-point winners over a weekend is a noteworthy feat, but that they’d all come from the same broodmare is that bit more unusual. Richard Lynch’s Lafontaine mare Coco Opera achieved as much last Saturday and Sunday. This is a pedigree where the mighty racemare Anaglogs Daughter leaps off the page. She won no less than 19, and Callernish gelding Mulligan did his bit for the family too, chipping in with 9 successes, including at graded level. Crossing Lines (a 5yo gelding, Jeremy — Coco Opera) set the ball rolling at the Tipperary Foxhounds meet at Lisronagh on Saturday. He easily won by ten lengths on debut and handler Mary Doyle’s brother James indicated that a winner’s race could be on the agenda. On to the Duhallow Foxhounds fixture at Dromahane the following afternoon and Castle Robin (a 4yo gelding, Robin Des Champs — Coco Opera) prevailed for Paul Cashman and his mother Catherine. Described as an “old-fashioned chasing type” in the aftermath, the Rathbarry youngster made the most of a blunder at the last by eventual second placer Enemenemynemo. Arctic Skipper (a 10yo gelding, Flemensfirth — Coco Opera) has already enriched this pedigree with a Grade Two win in the 2016 Fortria Chase at Navan. Back pointing now, the Halley family’s great old servant won Sunday’s Dromahane open from another former classy track racer, Mount Colah. Three parts of a length split them. Coco Opera herself won five races between 1999 and 2000 for the Durkan family under Gerry Kilfeather.
