Close finishes at Bettyville Park

By Dan Walsh

Tight finishes were a feature of this evening’s seven-race card run in summer conditions at Bettyville Park this evening. No local winners though.

The opening two and a half mile hurdle was a thriller with Mr Caplan (4/1), trained by Denise Foster and ridden by Keith Donoghue, holding off Quirt Evans and Wexford jockey Sean Flanagan by a short head. At the end of the Flood Ironworks Handicap Hurdle Getaway Queen (9/2) ridden by Shane Fitzgerald scored ‘a head’ verdict over the JP McManus runner General Moriviere.

Colin Bowe’s John Adams (Toni Quail) went close to supplying a Wexford trained winner in the three-mile Cullens Mills Ballymurn Maiden Hurdle only to be deprived of victory by Bardenstown Lad (10/3) trained by John C. McConnell in Meath and ridden by Simon Torrens. The verdict was one and a quarter lengths.

There were three chases on the card. The two-mile beginners’ chase was won by Raya Time, by five lengths, for Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore.

The two and a half miles beginners chase were won by 20/1 shot Friary Rock from the Tipperary stables of Mouse Morris and a four lengths victory in the hands of Philip Enright.

The renowned green and gold hoops of JP McManus were first past the line as Top Moon (10/3 fav.) scored by two and a half lengths in the handicap chase for trainer Joseph O’Brien, Carrick-on-Suir and jockey Mark Walsh.

Gavin Cromwell saddled the winner of the bumper, Presentingnewyork (3/1) ridden by veteran amateur Derek O’Connor, who scored by one and three-quarter lengths.