By Dan Walsh at Wexford Races
The early part of this evening’s races at Wexford was dominated by the wet conditions but the opening race brought early pleasure to the punters when the curiously named Demandrivingdouvan (15/8 fav) lead all the way in the auction maiden hurdle and secured a local victory by eleven lengths.
The six year old gelding who won his point-to-point at Borris House in March 2022 is owned by the American-based Buttonwood Farms, trained at Coolgarrow Lane, Enniscorthy, by Mary Ellen Doyle and was well handled by amateur jockey Brian Dunleavy.
There was a thrilling finish to the mare’s maiden hurdle with Emily Roebling (10/3), ridden by JJ Slevin from Caim, Enniscorthy, getting the better of Rachael Blackmore on Music Of Tara (1/2 fav.) by a short head verdict.
Emmet Mullins owned and trained Hardy Bloke (10/3) who won the novice hurdle for seven-pound claimer Conor Clarke. Nine and a half lengths was the winning margin.
Philip Rothwell from Tinahely saddled Oscer Romero (9/1) in the novice chase and the Paddy O’Hanlon ridden gelding held off Mercury Lane from Paul Nolan’s stables with Sean Flanagan up for another local one-two.
Charlie Stout (9/2) was a popular winner of the handicap chase for Kildare trainer Shane Nolan and jockey Kieran Callaghan who defeated the Gavin Cromwell trained Darver Star who won his first race at Wexford in April 2019 and finished third in the 2020 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.
The Wexford Supporter’s Handicap Chase was run in two divisions. The Byrnes family from Ballingarry, Co. Limerick won the first division with Aodhan May (3/1 fav) for Cora (owner), Charles (trainer) and Philip Byrnes (jockey) by two lengths beating the Liz Doyle trained Fox Le Bel (Aidan Kelly) in the JP McManus colours.
The final race of the day supplied a shock 20/1 victory for Stolen Moment from Sean Aherne’s Conna, Co. Cork stables with Philip Enright in the saddle.
The day’s Tote aggregate was €108,010.90 compared with €120,651.71 last year. The going was ‘heavy’ Next fixture at Bettyville Park is scheduled for Saturday, May20th.
WexfordLocal.com 