By Dan Walsh at Bettyville Park
The first evening meeting of the season took place at Bettyville Park where a seven-race card yielded a few local winners and a double success for jockey Danny Mullins.
Sadie’s Pride (12/1) sprinted up the straight in impressive style to take the Tomcoole Farm Ltd Maiden hurdle by five and a half lengths under a confident ride from amateur jockey James Kenny, trained by his father, Liam Kenny at Craanford for well-known Gorey businessman Paddy Redmond.
Owners Jonathan and Janice Deacon from Clonmore House, Bree, enjoyed their first winner with Outback Flyer (7/2) coming home four and three-quarter lengths to the good in the Slaney River Mare’s Maiden Hurdle. The home-bred bay mare carried jockey Kevin Sexton to victory in the ‘purple and pink spots’ once familiar on horses owned by the late Godfrey Deacon, who was well-known in racing and hunting circles.
Afterwards winning trainer Peter Fahey said; “I’m delighted for the owners Johnny and Janice (Deacon) who are local and it’s the first horse they have had with me. She’ll stay tipping away. She struggled during the winter and may find easier targets over the summer. She’s big enough to jump a fence as well.”
Charlie O’Dwyer, son of former Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey turned trainer Conor O’Dwyer, who was born a few fields from Bettyville Park, enjoyed his first Wexford winner aboard R’evelyn Pleasure (3/1) in the Arctic Tack Stud Veterans Handicap Chase.
Jockey Danny Mullins recorded an almost 33/1 double on Recite A Prayer (11/4) for his uncle, champion trainer Willie Mullins in the novice chase and followed up with Fox Watch (8/1) for his father, Tony Mullins, in division two of the Ire Wel Pallets Ltd Handicap Chase.
The Tote aggregate was €120,651.71, slightly higher than last year’s figure of €118,638. The next race meting at Bettyville Park takes place on Saturday, May 24th.
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