By Dan Walsh at Lingstown races
Uncle and nephew, handler Darragh Berry and rider Josh Berry were in great form in the winter sunshine at their local track at Lingstown today where they joined forces and shared a double success. Rider Barry Stone also had a double.
The Berrys got on the scoresheet in the first race – the maiden race for four-year-old mares – when Elderflower Tonic running in the Run for Fun Partnership colours slipped the field and came home ten lengths clear.
Rider Josh Berry rode his first career double aboard Expensive Emotion in the maiden race for five-year-old mares by three lengths. Handler Darragh was delighted with a double on the day and confirmed that Expensive Emotion is going to the sales.
The maiden race for four-year-old geldings was divided. A Sight To Sea scored by six lengths for Killurin handler Paul Martin Pierce in division two. Luke Murphy was the winning rider.
Division One provided Barry Stone with his 70th career winner when partnering Blue To You for Robert Tector, Coolbawn Stables, Rathnure. The Cleariestown rider, who only returned from injury the week before, enjoyed his 71st winner on Doujadou for Benny Walsh in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. This one was super easy – 24 lengths the verdict.
Gordon Elliott put up Barry O’Neill on Chemical Energy, who became a hot favourite with strong punter support, and they were rewarded in a six lengths victory in the Open Lightweight Race over the redesigned Banks Course where one of the obstacles had to be omitted due to the low-lying sun!
The final race of the day – maiden race for six-years-old and upwards – went to Jigsaw Juke, owned and trained by Jim O’Neill, Ballindaggin. The verdict was one length, and the winning rider was Alan Harney.
There was also point-to-point action at Moig, Co. Cork today and one popular Wexford winner. Runner-up on his first outing, Mcelhattan in the colours of Billy Bates and trained by Mark Scallan in Cleariestown was the four and a half lengths winner of the four-year-old maiden race.
Next Sunday’s fixture is the Carlow Farmers Hunt races at Borris House, Co. Carlow. Entries close on Tuesday.
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