By Dan Walsh at Ballinaboola
The Wexford Hunt point-to-point attracted a large attendance today (Sunday) for a seven-race card on good ground with plenty of close finishes and a dead-heat to rejuvenate the sport with the first unrestricted fixture in twenty-two months.
The first race for four-year-olds got today’s card up and running at Ballinaboola, New Ross, and Doyen For Money put in a brilliant front running performance and crossed the line one length victorious for combined rider, owner and handler Harley Dunne who is based at Rathturtin, Clonroche. Dunne has riding his 85th career winner.
The five-year-old geldings maiden race was ‘divided’ with eleven runners in each contest. Division one went to Wasini Island in the colours of Laura Scallan and handled by Mark Scallan, Cleariestown, and Sean Staples, Duncormick, was in the saddle. The winning distance was three lengths.
Division two may have been ‘a divide’ but the judge failed to split Chosen Witness (Barry O’Neill-Colin Bowe) and Captain Checkdown handled by Andrew Latta at Ballinakill, Enniscorthy, and ridden by Jack Hendrick, Mayglass. Shared honours and a dead-heat verdict.
Sean Doyle and Jamie Scallan won the first leg of a double when Credrojava scored by half a length with a strong challenge by From This Moment ridden by Barry Stone in the maiden race for five- and six-year-old mares. They were celebrating again after the Winner of Three race when Is A Real Champ in the Monbeg Partnership colours lead the field home. Scallan from Tomhaggard enjoyed a double success bringing his career total to 24.
The Devereux family from Rostoonstown Stud, Tomhaggard, were successful with the home-bred Worthatry, ridden by Shane O’Rourke, Foulksmills, the four length winner of maiden race for six year old geldings.
The only race to go outside the county was Uncertain Times success in the novice riders race giving David O’Brien a winner and handled by David Harry Kelly from Fethard, Co. Tipperary.
Racing also took place this afternoon at Bellharbour, Co. Clare, where Rob James scored twice. First on Out of Office, which he also trains at Killanne, in the maiden race for four-year-olds and, secondly, aboard Fact to File by six lengths for Donnchadh Doyle in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.
Also racing today (Sunday) at Tallow, Co. Waterford where local rider James Hannon had a treble, including a one length victory on his first mount for Michael Goff, Clondaw, Enniscorthy, on Well Dick running in the colours of Caitriona Goff in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.
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