O'Connor bids for eighth title Derek O’Connor has firmly set his sights on retaining his Champion Point to Point Rider title and the seven times Champion has started the season well, partnering two winners on the opening weekend. O’Connor on Tuesday stated “I’ll ride for whoever will have me again this year but my main yards will be Ian Ferguson’s, Colin McKeever, Pat Doyle, Sean Ahern and my brother Padraic’s.” He added “obviously it is very difficult to have a proper idea of horse numbers but from riding out in various places, I’ve noticed maybe a 25% downturn in horse numbers in point to point yards recently. However I think the quality of point to point horses will still be as good if not better this year than last.” “It will be very difficult for me to ride 100 winners this year and I see Jamie Codd as a big threat to me for this season’s title - things would have gone very close had he not suffered his injury at Punchestown last April.” Interestingly, and something Edward Gillespie, managing director of Cheltenham racecourse, would not like to read, O’Connor has “no grá for Cheltenham and would much prefer Punchestown. I’d love to ride the winner of the Ladies Cup at Punchestown some year.” O’Connor says competition for the Leading Handlers’ Award is likely to prove strong this year with “any one of four or five trainers in bullish mood of winning it. Colin McKeever, Pat Doyle, Liam Burke, Robert Tyner and last year’s winner Colin Bowe each hold solid chances of winning.” O’Connor nominates First Lieutenant as his horse to follow for the year and is of the opinion the Mouse Morris gelding will “prove exceptional as the season progresses.”
