By Dan Walsh at Wexford Races
Colin Bowe’s star Kiltealy stables are normally associated with point-to-point success -he has held the trainers’ championship for the past 13 years – but his horses were in winning form at Wexford races today with a double success on the 8-race card.
Morell River (7/1)registered a second career success today, both at Wexford, landing that course’s Forth Mountain Trails Mares Handicap Hurdle for Straffan, Co. Kildare owners Brendan and Mary Fitzpatrick, trainer Colin Bowe and Taghmon jockey Sean O’Keeffe.
The six-year-old mare’s maiden success came in October and today, on seasonal reappearance, was produced from rear to lead at the last to win by one and a half lengths.
O’Keeffe, with his fourth winner in May, said “There was no pressure on, with it being her first run of the season and in fairness to Colin Bowe, he’s a top man to have them ready.”
Bowe’s double with nine-year-old North Of Nashville (9/1) bridged an almost three-year gap between Wexford wins today, landing her second career success for trainer Colin Bowe in the Treo Eile Handicap Chase.
Carrying the colours of Milestone Bloodstock Limited, North Of Nashville’s previous success came at today’s course in September 2023 and today under Ricky Doyle raced prominently and maintained her gallop, to score by nine lengths.
Bowe’s assistant Brendan Walsh said afterwards; “North Of Nashville was a really good winner here a few years ago, she likes it down here and had a nice run the last day over a shorter trip.
“We’ve no fancy plans; we’re just delighted to get another day out of her. She always threatened a lot and hasn’t really delivered but that’s two days out of her now so we’re happy enough.”
Although training in Kildare nowadays, Wexford-born Conor O’Dwyer loves having runners at his ‘local’ track and he saddled the winner of the handicap hurdle, Teenage Kiss (5/1), ridden by his son, five-pound claimer Charlie O’Dwyer for champion owner John P. McManus.
There was also a double for Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead with Workahead (11/8 fav.), (Darragh O’Keeffe) and The Besty Woman (6/4 fav.), ridden by John Gleeson in the INH Flat race. It is interesting to note that that Workahead finished ninth in the 2026 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham won by Lossiemouth!
The next day’s racing at Wexford is Wednesday, May 27th (evening).
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