By Dan Walsh
It is rare for a Wexford race meeting to pass without a local winner and today it was the turn of Cleariestown jockey Mikey Fogarty and Kiltealy trainer Colin Bowe who combined to supply the winner of the Courtown Mares Maiden Hurdle with Flamin Aimee (4/1).
“We’re delighted with her and delighted for her owners (the Morrisseys). They have shown good patience with her and deserve a lot of credit for putting her back in and having another go at it,” said Bowe’s assistant trainer Brendan Walsh, who added; “We’ll see what the handicapper thinks. Her jumping is very good and she probably needs a trip.”
Philip Rothwell, Tinahely, is also local to the Wexford track, and he saddled Ricky Langford (12/1), ridden by Hugh Morgan, for a fine success in the Curracloe Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. Home-bred by Joan Rothwell, Ricky Langford is owned by a bunch of the trainer’s college friends from Dublin and triumphed in the colours of the Kings Horses Syndicate.
Conor O’Dwyer trains in Kildare, but he was born a stone’s throw from Bettyville Park and is always delighted to saddle a winner there. He won the Duncannon Handicap Chase with I’m Not Alone (7/1) by four lengths in the famous John P McManus green and orange hooped colours worn by Jody McGarvey, who recorded a double success on the day.
Joseph O’Brien sent Isotope (5/4 fav) from his Piltown stables in neighbouring Kilkenny and with Oakley Brown up, the four year old stayed on well in the closing stages to finish four and a half lengths to the good in the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Hurdle.
The Morriscastle Handicap Hurdle was run in two divisions. Bagenalstown trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon and jockey Jody McGarvey enjoyed their third winner together in as many days when Balinaboola Steel (6/1) scored in the first division. Balinaboola Steel showed a liking for the Wexford turf and followed up on his first victory here last month. Rebel Waltz (4/1) was runner-up last Saturday here, but went one better today to win division two of this handicap hurdle for Mallow trainer Tom Nagle and jockey Ambrose McCurtin.
Tiantu (10/1), trained at Butlerstown, Co. Waterford, by Paul Power took the honours in the Rosslare Opportunity Handicap Chase. The victorious rider was Liam Quinlan.
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