By Dan Walsh at Wexford Races
Local trainers kept the punters happy at Bettyville Park on Friday evening with three local winners shared between Seamus Neville of Brideswell, Paul Nolan of Toberona Stables, Davidstown, and champion point-to-point handler Colin Bowe from Kiltealy.
Seamus Neville saddled Brideswell Lad, (11/4) fav, running in the colours of his wife, Ina, and brilliantly ridden by Sean O’Keeffe, Harveystown, Taghmon, and gained a half a length victory in the handicap hurdle. It was a sixth career success for Brideswell Lad and afterwards Seamus Neville said; “He is probably a better horse over fences but it is nice to pick up another hurdle.”
Paul Nolan’s Joyeux Machin (7/2) survived a stewards enquiry into the finish of the novice chase in which the two fences in the straight were omitted due to a low setting sun, bringing success to the Rectory Road Holdings Limited and J. McCauly partnership from Enniscorthy. One and a quarter lengths the verdict and the winner was ridden by New Ross jockey Sean Flanagan.
Caim jockey Jordan Gainford enjoyed an easy 14 lengths success aboard North of Nashville, (8/1), owned Leo McArdle from Castleblaney. Brendan Walsh, representing winning trainer, Colin Bowe, said: “It was her first handicap chase tonight. She won a point-to-point well on debut and we thought that she was going to be a good lot smarter.
“Her dam was a good race mare and won eight times. She was an impressive winner of her point-to-point and Colin said he’d hold on to her, as he likes to race the odd, good mare and that’s what we thought she was going to be. Up until today she has been disappointing. It was a low-grade race and in fairness the handicapper had given her a chance,” concluded Mr Walsh.
Stadium Talk, (28/1), bred by Tommy James, Camolin, and winner of a point-to-point at Ballinaboola last February for Cormac Doyle and Jack Hendrick, won the mares maiden hurdle by 15 lengths for Meath trainer John McConnell and jockey Ben Harvey.
The seven-race card opened with the opportunity maiden hurdle and pillar to post front running success for Boher Road, (7/1), for trainer Jarlath Fahey from Monasterevin and four pound claiming jockey Peter Smithers. Killena trainer Colin Murphy’s 11/8 favourite The Lovely Man (Richard Condon up) was runner-up 19 lengths behind the winner.
Jimmy Mangan travelled from Tallow in west Waterford to saddle No Show (14/1), and with Philip Enright in the saddle scored by one length over Banada Bridge (Sean Flanagan) in the Dan Byrne Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead has an impressive strike rate at Wexford and was amongst the winners again today with Downtown Queen, (7/1) in the handicap chase. Conor McNamara was on board and two lengths the verdict. Jordan Gainford finished up in the runner-up position on Pepperocco.
It was a very successful race meeting. The rain kept away, a good crowd, the track was in great order and a pleasant atmosphere prevailed. And the three local winners added to the joys of local punters.
Two more days’ racing at Bettyville Park before the end of the year on the Bank Holiday weekend, Sunday and Monday, October 29th and 30th. Mark up those pages in your sports diary.
WexfordLocal.com 