By Dan Walsh
Mild conditions, close finishes and a good Bank Holiday Monday attendance were the ingredients that made Bettyville Park a good place to be today for the final race meeting of the year.
For the second year in succession Wexford’s only Listed Race – the BetVictor M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase – was won by the Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore combination with Eklat De Rire. A year ago they won with Minella Indo who went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup last March. It was Blackmore’s first success since returning from injury.
It was the first leg of a double for the Waterford trainer. He also saddled Fangio De Vassy (Hugh Morgan up) to win the maiden hurdle.
Michael Mulvaney from Kells saddled the winners of the first two races, both ridden by Wexford jockeys. In From The Cold and Sean Flanagan scored in the opening maiden hurdle and Jordan Gainford was aboard Barnacullia, winning at Wexford for the second time this year, in a tight finish to the novice hurdle. This win rounded off a wonderful weekend for Jordan Gainford with four winners, three of them on his home track and the other at Cheltenham.
John Flaven from Tramore saddled Clarens for the Miracle Racing Syndicate in the opportunity handicap hurdle and recorded a one and a quarter lengths success for jockey Jack Foley.
Take All won the beginners chase for the Cleary family and a second winner for Monasterevin trainer Seamus Fahey (he won with Cullaghs Star yesterday in the maiden hurdle) and Kevin Sexton was on board.
Champion Patrick Mullins has made a habit of winning the bumper over the years and no change there. He partnered Fameafterglory for Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell.
The jackpot pool was €273.84, no winners and it will be carried to the Curragh on Tuesday. Tote aggregate €63,153.84. €59,423 last year.
Next meeting at Bettyville Park will be on Sunday, March 6th 2022.
WexfordLocal.com 