TELLTHEMNUTTIN continued her love affair with Wexford, as she made it four from four at Bettyville in the Jennifer & Gillian Kerins Supporting Wexford Camogie Handicap Hurdle.
Trained locally by Willie Codd, the daughter of Shantou won over the course and distance just last month. She then finished seventh of 25 on her last start at the Punchestown Festival.
Available at 11/4 in the morning, she opened on-course at just 2s, before going off the clear 15/8 favourite under Dylan Robinson for the Heads Or Harps Syndicate.
Settled in mid-division she made her move around the outer as they approached the straight for the final time. She was pushed along to lead from the second last, and kept on well from there, going on to score comfortably by four lengths.
Codd said afterwards: “She just seems to turn in to that second last and relishes going up in front of the stands.
“She just didn’t have the run of the race at Punchestown and I wasn’t sure coming back here so quickly. She was as fresh as paint Tuesday morning and I just said we’d stick her in.
“There is a race I want to go back and try and win and that’s the two-mile, five-furlong conditional riders race at Cheltenham in November. I was second in it with Vale Of Avocia a few years back. It’s a race I think will suit her.
“We might get back to Galway again. She is just a pleasure to train.”
Soul Season was another Model county victor, as he took the Treacys Hotel Enniscorthy Supporting Wexford Camogie Handicap Hurdle, for Camolin based handler Thomas James.
The 11-year-old gelding, who is owned by James, and Eoin Banville, won a point-to-point on his second start back in 2012 but has proved injury prone since and was off the track for almost three years.
Back on good ground here, he was ridden by another Wexford man in 22-year-old James O’Sullivan who was recording his first success since turning professional.
Having raced towards the rear, he took closer order from three out. He was ridden in fourth after the next, and stayed on best from the last, getting up on the inner to score by a neck.
“I was expecting him to win,’’James revealed. “He won a point-to-point but broke down shortly after it. He is very well-bred and is a half-brother to Monkerhostin and Eric’s Charm.
“He is a very good horse if you could just keep him right and hopefully he comes out of today alright. He is a stayer and two miles would be his minimum trip.”
Soul Season was returned at 14/1 (from 16s), and so too was Jennys Grey, who claimed the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race for James Dullea. Fourth and sixth on her two previous starts, the daughter of Daylami raced behind the leaders and was ridden in fourth as they entered the straight.
She went second on the inner with a furlong to go, and battled gamely from there, getting up close home to score by half a length in the colours of owner John Draddy.
Dullea wasn’t present but the winning rider Declan Queally disclosed: “She settled better with the earplugs and she is a nice filly for the future. She has just grown up a little bit and is improving.’’
Queally is of course a proud Waterford man, as is Paul Power who was on the mark with Drakaina in the Denis Murphy Racing & MSK Silversands Supporting Wexford Camogie Handicap Hurdle.
Power trains and was aboard this six-year-old daughter of Oscar, who was making her handicap debut in this two-mile contest, after getting in as first reserve.
Sent off at 20/1 (from 25s on-course, 33s in early quotes), she was settled in mid-division and travelled strongly in fourth before two out.
She was pushed along to challenge after that flight, and soon hit the front, staying on well from the last to score by two lengths.
Power revealed in the aftermath: “We were hopeful of a good run. We always liked her but she disappointed a few times on soft ground.
“She found her level and ground. She is owned by Paul Hibbard from England and my mother Bride.”
Drakaina is a full-sister to Baltiman who won three times for Susan Finn, taking a Grade 3 over fences at Tipperary in October of 2008.
FAVOURITE
Favourite backers had better luck in the opening Monbeg Stables Donnacha Doyle Racing Ltd Supporting Wexford Camogie Mares Maiden Hurdle, as Miss Sapphire landed the spoils under Danny Mullins for his uncle Willie. Having her second start over flights, the 2/1 chance raced mainly in third, coming through to lead after three out.
She was ridden after the next, and despite a sloppy jump at the last, she kept on well to score by a length and a half in the colours of the Blue Blood Racing Club.
“It was a good performance, she is tough and galloped all the way to the line,” the winning rider divulged. “She got under the last a little bit but she has improved a lot from the last day. My mother is involved with her, she bred her, and thankfully Willie let me ride her.”
Miss Sapphire prevailed by a length and half, as did Shadagann in the Casey Enterprises Supporting Wexford Camogie Rated Hurdle.
Better known for his exploits on the level, the Mick Halford-trained seven-year-old won his maiden hurdle at Sligo in August of 2015.
Having his first start over flights since June of last year, the son of Invincible Spirit was sent off at 8/1 under Paul Townend for owner Paul Rooney.
Settled off the pace, he took closer order after three out and was pushed along to lead on the run to the next. He came under pressure after the last and kept on well to see off the effort of Jamie Sommers.
The 11/10 favourite Stars Over The Sea lost ground at the start, and eventually finished third.
Townend said: “He is a classy auld horse, he probably just needs to get his confidence back a bit. He is rated in the high 80s on the flat and I think he will stay further.”
Your Busy retired
THE 14-year-old Your Busy was retired after he pulled up injured in the race won by Tellthemnuttin. The admirable veteran won eight times in his career, and amassed nearly €300,00 in prize money, with his biggest success coming in the 2014 Kerry National.
Reluctant starter
THE stewards received a report from Paddy Graffin, Turf Club starter, that Stars Over The Sea showed reluctance to line up with the other runners. Dylan Robinson reported that, in his opinion, his mount shied away from the loudspeakers near the start.
ACTING STEWARDS
N. Lambert, Ms D. Brophy, P. Coveney, E. Halley, P.D Matthews.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
BULLOWNEY (G. J. Power): This daughter of Papal Bull ran a cracker to finish third on her first start since September. She clearly appreciated the quick ground and should be able to pick up a similar contest soon.