By Dan Walsh at Bettyville Park
The cheers echoed far beyond the stands at Wexford racecourse last evening (Friday) where a bumper attendance enjoyed brilliant jump racing in pleasant summer conditions.
Only one locally trained winner and that was Ricky Langford (8/1) trained at Tinahely for the Kings Horses Syndicate by Philip Rothwell who got home in the Tote Handicap Hurdle by two and a quarter length under jockey P.addy O’Hanlon.
Top trainer Willie Mullins saddled Friends (4/6 fav.) to win the mares flat race with champion amateur Patrick Mullins up, Clairmc (5/2 fav.), who won at the last Wexford fixture, scored again by a neck in the Neville Hotels Handicap Chase for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue. Runner-up was Berliet Express (Simon Torrens) depriving trainer Philip Rothwell of a double on the evening.
Kilkenny trainer Ray Cody saddled Fancy A Cosmo (15/2) with Donagh Meyler up and an easy 14 lengths success in the opening maiden hurdle. John C. McConnell, who was simultaneously saddling a winner at his home track in Bellewstown, had a Wexford winner in Kinbara (13/8 fav.) and jockey Ben Harvey in the maiden hurdle.
Rachael Blackmore enjoys riding at Wexford and notched up another winner on Henry de Bromhead’s Ballyadam (evens fav.) in the beginner’s chase. Paul Nolan’s Joyeux Machin (Sean Flanagan) finished third after a blunder at the final fence.
John ‘Shark’ Hanlon made the journey from Bagenalstown to saddle Take All (17/2) in the handicap chase and it was all worthwhile with the James Cleary owned and bred gelding getting up by half a length in the hands of Jody McGarvey.
It was a very successful midsummer meeting, the largest crowd at Wexford since the post-Covid lifting of the attendance ban, the weather was brilliant, and a great sporting and social atmosphere.
The next Wexford races take place on Friday evening, August 11th, which will feature the annual ladies fashion competition that is always popular.
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