Low sunshine makes its mark at Wexford races

By Dan Walsh at Wexford races

The eight-race card at Wexford races yesterday was saturated in sunshine, but while the good attendance and the punters basked in its rays, low sunlight caused problems for the final four races and all three steeplechases required jumping only three obstacles instead of six! The decision was taken in the interest of safety, but the racing was completed without any disappointments.

World Of Fortunes (9/4) who won his bumper at Wexford in May 2023 returned to form after nine months off to make a winning debut over obstacles in the Brendan Cullimore Electrical Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Trained at Craanford, Gorey, by Liam Kenny for Michael Broderick, the six-year-old chestnut mare won by four and a quarter lengths under a confident ride from jockey Jordan Gainford from Caim, Enniscorthy.

Speaking afterwards the trainers’ son, James Kenny said; “She hadn’t run in nearly 290 days. She had a couple of little niggly injuries and her owner has been very patient. He gave her all the time in the world. She’ll keep hurdling now and we’ll look for a race in three or four weeks.”

Cleariestown conditional jockey Conor Stone-Walsh was in the winners’ enclosure following a one and a quarter lengths success on Duty Bound (16/1) for Tramore Trainer John Flavin in the handicap chase.

Afterwards Flavin said; “Then they took all those fences out and it worked in his favour. I said to Conor that if he was going well over the last down the back to set sail for home because he won around Sandown and he is tough and hardy.”

It was a good day for leading Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead who saddled a double on the card – Chutzpal (1/2 fav.) ridden by Ethan O’Sullivan in the handicap hurdle and Gorgeous Tom (4/5 fav.) in the novice chase ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe.

Just two remaining fixtures at Wexford Racecourse for 2024 on the October Bank Holiday weekend, Sunday, October 27^th and Monday, October 28^th.