Wexford newcomers are successful

By Dan Walsh

Award-winning champion handler Colin Bowe sent out newcomer Here Comes The Man to win the five-year-old geldings maiden race at Boulta, Co. Cork, today for Toomevara owner James Grace. The mount of Rob James Here Comes The Man was an impressive winner by ten lengths. He is for the sales.

Hard luck on champion Barry O’Neill who was committed to riding Colin Bowe’s runners at Olcastle, unfortunately, the Meath track was found to be waterlogged in places this morning and the races were cancelled.

Ellen Doyle’s Tomgarrow Lane stables continued in winning form when newcomer Setme Straightmate had a dozen lengths to spare in the maiden race for four-year olds in the hands of John O’Neill. The winner is sales bound.

Today’s other point-to-point action was at Stradbally. The popular Laois track is always good for Wexford stables and the success continued in heavy conditions this afternoon.

Cormac Doyle, Ballindaggin, captured the second division of the maiden race for four-year olds with newcomer Ozzie Man getting home first by two lengths for Mayglass rider Jack Hendrick in the colours of the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership.

Division two of the five-year olds plus mares’ maiden race resulted in victory for Dazzling Glory from the Redbridge Stables, Duncormick, trained by Michael Murphy and ridden by Sean Staples.

Most impressive winner of the day was High Stakes who became the first horse to win four races this season and was runner-up in his only other outing when he won the Winner of Three race by six lengths for owner/handler John Edward Walsh, Prebin, Tinahely. Winning rider, James Walsh, said afterwards that High Stakes “could go for an Open before contesting a hunter chase in the New Year.”

Equally impressive was James Devereux’s home-bred Mr Mantilla who was a six lengths winner in the Open Race and could be aimed at the Foxhunters Chase next Spring. Trained by the owner/breeder’s son Vincent Devereux at Rostoonstown Stud, Broadway – it was his 30^th career success as a handler – and ridden today by Shane O’Rourke, Foulksmills, Mr Mantilla was winning his third race of the season and has won five of his six career starts. Ironically, his only defeat was in a photo-finish at Lingstown last March in a race sponsored by the family stud business!