DUE to a heavy, thundery downpour, there was a hiatus of nearly half an hour halfway through Wexford’s eight-race card and racing resumed with the Traynors Of Wexford Mares Maiden Hurdle over three miles.
It resulted in victory for Something Fabulous (4/1), who gave trainer John McConnell and jockey Alex Harvey their third maiden hurdle winner in five days.
The daughter of Getaway, owned by Pimlico Racing, led jumping the last to beat Star Cave by a length and a quarter.
“She probably needed the run at Tramore the last day and I probably rode her wrong as well, to be honest,” said Harvey. “I took a lead today and she handled the ground lovely.”
The most valuable race on the card was the Brendan Cullimore Electrical Rated Novice Chase over two miles and three furlongs. It was won by Femme Magnifique (7/4), who stayed on best under Danny Gilligan on the rain-softened ground to win by three-parts of a length from Ma Jacks Hill. The runner-up went for home turning in, but made a mistake at the second last.
Harry Kelly trains the successful Champs Elysees mare for the DQ Number Eleven Syndicate, which consists of friends and family of Tipperary hurler Dillon Quirke, who died on the pitch in 2022, aged 24.
“Even though she’s won, I think she might be better on a level track,” Kelly said. “That’s three wins in four runs.”
Five-year-old Thewaybackhome (7/2 favourite) got the better of 13-year-old Fr Gilligansvoyge in the handicap chase over three miles, one furlong.
The runner-up, trained by John Carr, was bidding for a hat-trick and ran another gallant race, but it was the John Shinnick-partnered youngster, owned by the Rebel Deise Syndicate, who forged clear after the last to win by three and a half lengths.
“We’ll probably go to Listowel, if we find something there,” said winning trainer Terence O’Brien. “He’ll be a horse for next year, he’s a fine big horse.”
Deserved success
Placed on all four previous starts over flights, Game Point (4/11 favourite) gained a deserved victory in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle over two miles and a furlong.
Owned by Ballygallon Stud, the Blue Point gelding made all to score by 18 lengths from Sonas.
“I had him up with Robbie Power, just to get him to be a bit slicker over poles,” said winning trainer Ray Cody, whose nephew Paddy did the steering.
“Robbie did a great job and even when he got in tight today, he was quick out over them.
“My long-term plan all along has been the Lartigue in Listowel, he’d be in off a very light weight.”
A DOUBLE on the card took jockey Phillip Enright’s seasonal score to 16 winners.
His first of the evening came aboard Cool Summer (7/2), who recorded her first win when landing the Visitwexford.ie Handicap Hurdle over two miles and a furlong.
Runner-up on her previous two starts, the Wings Of Eagles mare came from off the pace and led after the last to beat Ballinearla Girl by two and three-quarter lengths.
Martin Ferris, partner of winning trainer Hilary McLoughlin, said: “The owner, Tim Kelly, is from Ballinrobe and she was unlucky not to win there a few weeks ago.
“Today, it worked out great. If the ground changes, she’ll be put away until next season, as she wants good ground.”
Enright went on to record a double when Chosen Shant (15/2) again showed her liking for Wexford in the Dan and Breda Byrne Memorial Handicap Chase over an extended two miles, three furlongs.
The 10-year-old led after the second last to beat Luimneach by three and a quarter lengths.
“The left-handed track definitely suits her and she’s won here four times now,” said winning owner/trainer Aengus King.
“Phillip said that was the best she’s felt. She’s carrying me up the gallop every day, no wonder she looked back at Phillip and saw nothing!
“Tom Meagher (Kedrah House Stud) is probably going to breed from her. I’m not interested in breeding horses, I’m too old for that. By the time the foal would be four, I’d be on a Zimmer frame!”
AFTER a Ballinrobe brace four days earlier, Darragh O’Keeffe landed another double when winning both divisions of the Treo Eile Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.
O’Keeffe produced the 4/1 favourite Boola Times from off a strong pace in the first division to post a two-and-a-quarter length success over Bruise Hill.
The Awtaad gelding is owned by Alan Gray and David Keohane. Trainer Ken Budds, saddling his third winner of the month, said: “They went plenty quick and he loved going through them.
“We thought he needed to be handy the whole time, but we said we’d take our time today and maybe this is the right way to ride him.”
The market leader also won the second division, as Sekakarma (10/3) provided absent owner/breeder/trainer Mark Roper with a first winner since Play The Part won at this track in July 2018.
In front early, the nine-year-old Hillstar gelding then settled in behind the leaders and was driven to regain the initiative after the last to beat Tantrum Boy by half a length.
“Mark rang me last night and said to keep it nice and simple,” said O’Keeffe. “He jumped the last two hurdles really well and battled well to the line.”
Dylan O’Connor, who rode fifth-placed Ballinaboola Steel, was suspended for four days for using the ProCush with his arm above shoulder height.