WEXFORD riders produced a winning raid on the South Westmeath fixture at The Pigeons, landing the spoils in all six races. This came in the shape of a double for Jamie Codd and Barry O’Neill and individual winners for Harley Dunne and J.J. Slevin.

O’Neill’s first leg of his double come when Nicat’s Benefit (4/1) got the better of Call Her Magic (5/4 favourite) in a thrilling finish in the Hugh J. Campbell & Co Solicitors five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Nicat’s Benefit was always prominent and put up a good battle to shake off the efforts of Call Her Magic close home to score by half a length. Handler/owner Tom Keating was delighted to get his mare off the mark: “She might be suited to a mare’s bumper on better ground.’’

Nicat’s Benefit previously finished second behind Three Swallowsnick in Borris in December, beaten only five lengths that day. The latter has now won two from two when most recently taking a winners of one at Durrow.

Valmy Baie (2/5 favourite) brought up the second leg of O’Neill’s double when scoring in emphatic style in the Walderstown Service Station open lightweight. In a race that saw six go to post, Valmy Braie disputed for most of the running and eased clear for an impressive victory after jumping the last from Frontier Dancer (6-8/1).

Valmy Baie was making this two from two in points and looks a force to be reckoned with this season. A delighted handler David Christie commented: “He is a talented horse and is improving with every run. He will be seen to better effect on good ground; he will stick to point-to-points for now and may go hunter chasing next season.’’

Owner Ray Nicholas was on hand to welcome in his winner. The Co Tyrone man has three horses in training and is also involved in Clondaw Frisby, who secured his third victory of the season in Tyrella on Saturday.

CODD DOUBLE

Jamie Codd enjoyed a double on the card, the first victory coming on board the Tom Cleary-trained Tradman (5/4 favourite) in the O’Roarke Brothers S.C.S.I confined winners race. Tradman hadn’t run since a creditable second place behind Gem and I at Ballingarry last June.

He travelled with ease throughout before asserting two from home to score easily by six lengths from Mr Michanda (3-4/1). The winning handler, who trains locally in Athlone, was delighted to have a winner at his home track: “This fellow is a family owned horse and will hopefully replace Jack Monday who was a great servant for us. He has loads of ability but takes a lot of minding and won’t be over raced.’’

Jim Dreaper supplied the second leg of Codd’s double in the form of Sizing Chile (5/4 favourite) in the Sean Dunning, Victualler and Frank Daly & Associates six-year-old and upwards gelding’ maiden.

Returning from a three-year absence the son of Flemensfirth appeared to relish the conditions and duly obliged by six lengths from Intheghetto (3-4/1). Sizing Chile was having his first run over obstacles and was previously placed on his only three starts in bumpers. The Alan Potts owned gelding quickened away readily on the run in to score in good style.

Tom Dreaper was on hand to welcome in this winner for his father and gave praise to Barry Cash who has enjoyed two day’s hunting on this fellow recently with the Ward Union: “He jumped great today and the hunting really made a man of him.’’

NALLEN’S WINNER

The opening race of the day, the Three Jolly Pigeons four-year-old geldings’ maiden, saw success for Wexford based handler Denis Murphy and Wexford rider Harley Dunne, in the form of Minella Till Dawn (5/1), for owner John Nallen.

In a race which saw only eight going to post despite a much bigger entry, the front two quickened away impressively from the rest and Minella Till Dawn just held off Eviscerating (evens favourite) by a nose in a ferocious battle to the line.

From the second last, it was clear the front two had found an extra gear.

Murphy said of his charge: “He is a big baby and will now head to the festival sales.’’ Hotelier Nallen was unable to attend but was represented by his good friends John and Thomas Kennedy.

The Slevin family enjoyed success in the second race on the card the Groarke & Partners Solicitors five-year-old geldings’ maiden where Garran City (6/1) duly obliged on the first time of asking when ridden by J.J. Slevin for his father Shay.

The son of City Honours, owned by Elizabeth Slevin, was held up for most of the race until kicking for home before the last, to score by five lengths from Swift Crusador (7/4 favourite) who was completing his first point having unseated at the second the last day. He recorded a highly creditable effort here.

The winner is a half-brother to Hunter’s Lodge who won his point-to-point for John Berry back in 2011 and was a good servant across the water for Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Better news for Cleary

TRAINER Tom Cleary was thankful for the efforts of Curragh Racecourse manager Paul Hensey for helping him out during the flood crisis. Cleary experienced floods for the first time ever at his Athlone base, water reaching highs of a foot and a half in his stables. With some of Cleary’s horses stabled at the Curragh, he was able to use the gallops, which surely didn’t do Tradman any harm.

Happy day for Ita

CREDIT to the committee at The Pigeons fixture as despite weather conditions the meeting attracted a good crowd and they even had a presentation for the most appropriately dressed mother on the day. Ita Kiernan was the lucky lady picked as the winner. Ita was presented with a bunch of flowers in the parade ring, a fun element which added to a great day’s racing.