By Dan Walsh at Wexford Races – Day 2
Day two of the Wexford Races attracted the year’s largest crowd so far to Bettyville Park this evening (Thursday), as summer weather shone and champion trainer Willie Mullins completed a treble.
Owner Stephen McGuinness and his son Tom McGuinness, who trains on the beach at Rosslare Strand enjoyed their first course success when Esticky End (16/1) scored by a neck in a handicap hurdle with Dylan Robinson in the saddle.
“This means a lot to us as he has been difficult to train and it has been a long journey with him. He won once for us in Dundalk previously and this is our first every jumps winner today.
“We’ve only three horses on the go, we ran two today and have another racing tomorrow, so we’ll have a quiet few days afterwards,” said trainer Tom McGuinness.
Wexford jockey Conor Stone-Walsh was aboard handicap hurdle winner Set The Tone (5/1) for Piltown trainer David O’Brien. The five-year-old bay mare was bred by legendary trainer Jim Bolger.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins and Brian Hayes shared a double with Highland Realm (7/2) and Are You Around (6/1) in the opening two races and then Willie went on to make it three winners on the card when Cotswold Blue, ridden by his son Patrick, won the ‘bumper’ impressively by seven lengths.
Tinahely trainer Philip Rothwell had his second winner in as many days at Wexford when Ocean Murphy (9/1) took the Ladies Handicap Hurdle under Joanna Walton.
“It’s Joanna’s first winner for me and she is very loyal and able when Phildelma (Elvin, stable amateur) isn’t available,” said Philip Rothwell.
Racing resumes at Wexford again on Friday evening, August 7th, which is the ever popular Ladies Day and continues with day two which is an afternoon meeting on Saturday, August 8th.
WexfordLocal.com 