THE feature race was the opener at Bettyville on Wednesday, with As Tears Go By (13/2) leading home a 1-2 for Gordon Elliott in the Wexford Racecourse Rated Hurdle.

Owned by Caren Walsh and Dee L’Estrange and a half-brother to 2021 Mares’ Hurdle winner Black Tears, the five-year-old was sent straight to the front by Corey McGivern.

Strongly pressed and joined before the second last, he battled back gamely on the run-in and regained the lead close home, seeing off stable companion I A Connect by a neck.

“He is a nice horse and the horses are running well,” Elliott, who was recording his sixth winner in the space of three days, commented.

“Corey gave him a lovely ride and I’ll try and find another suitable race for him now.”

Elliott had to settle for the runner-up spot with Be My Hero in the second division of the Boylesports Handicap Hurdle, as Away To Milan ran out a cosy winner for Philip Rothwell.

After encouraging efforts on his last two starts, the Getaway gelding was sent off at 17/2 under Simon Torrens for owner John Leckey.

Definite advantage

Settled in second, he improved to dispute the lead before five out, establishing a definite advantage away from the next.

Ridden on the approach to the final flight, he cleared it with precision and could afford to be eased down close home, with six lengths the winning margin.

“Coming down here tonight I thought this lad had a decent chance,” Rothwell remarked.

“He won nicely and I’ll probably give him a break now for a month as he is a big raw five-year-old.”

Returning from a break, Search For A Myth got an all-important win to her name in the first divide of this extended two-mile and a furlong contest.

Trained by Robert Tyner and out of five-time winner Whatwillwecallher, the 9/2 chance (from 11/4 early) was given a patient ride by Phillip Enright.

Challenged

She got a nice run through on the inner approaching the straight and soon challenged, hitting the front at the last before going on to score by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

Owned by J.P. McManus, his racing manager Frank Berry said: “She had been knocking on the door and Phillip gave her a grand ride because she is not the simplest, she pulls a bit.

“She’ll mix it between hurdles and fences for the summer. We bought the dam after she won at Punchestown and we are still breeding from her.”

Machin makes amends for Nolan

HAVING competed at the highest-level last season, Paul Nolan’s Joyeux Machin showed his class in the Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Hurdle.

Despite disappointing on his last three starts, the French-bred bay was sent off a well-supported 11/10 favourite (from 6/4) in the colours of Rectory Road Holdings Limited and James McAuley.

After racing mainly in second under Sean Flanagan, the six-year-old improved to lead before two out and quickly stretched clear on the run to the final flight, comfortably beating market rival Jungle Prose (11/8) by seven lengths.

“On the basis of his wins, we thought he was a graded horse but he was very, very disappointing,” Nolan reflected.

“We will keep him going now and he’ll probably go for a beginners’ chase next.”

Failing to allow his mount at least three strides to respond to the whip, resulted in a one-day suspension for Flanagan.

Improper riding

Further bans were handed out to Dara McGill and Johnny Barry (four days each for improper riding) after the former claimed the concluding Racing Again June 20th INH Flat Race aboard Mousey Brown (10/1).

Ridden behind the leaders on the approach to the straight, the Dermot McLoughlin-trained victor was impeded by Minella Mate when attempting to challenge on his inner.

While she eventually got to the front inside the final furlong, the Alan Smith-owned bay was all out at the line to hold off the late surge of Down Around (2/1 from 10s early) by a short-head.

“This race was always the plan, Alan had picked it out a long time ago,” James Griffin, representing McLoughlin, revealed.

“She is a big National Hunt staying mare and just lacks a gear for a proper two-mile race. She will be kept on the go and do her job over hurdles but ultimately, she is a chaser.”

ON the mark at Ballinrobe the previous evening, Darragh O’Keeffe, Tom Gibney and Derek Kierans again struck with Hartur D’arc in the Wexford Racecourse Supporters Club Maiden Hurdle.

Having disappointed on his previous three starts, the Diamond Boy six-year-old was sent off a 4/1 chance (8s early) and raced in second, before improving to lead on the approach to two out.

Soon ridden, he needed to be kept up to his work all the way to the line, holding off the late rattle of High City Roller by a neck.

“He had a great first run over hurdles at Navan and we thought that he’d come on from it but if anything, he went backwards,” O’Keeffe explained.

“Tom found a little issue with him but thankfully it’s all behind him now. I’d say that win will do his confidence the world of good.”

Close finish

The Country Fest Wexford August 13th Handicap Hurdle also produced a close finish, with Midnight Our Fred (11/2 from 14s early) ultimately coming out on top.

Never far from the pace under Hugh Morgan, the John Flavin-trained six-year-old was pushed along from three out and was ridden in third on the approach to the straight.

He gained a narrow lead at the final flight and battled on gamely to see off the effort of Gotthenod by half a length.

“He is still only learning. I’ve given him plenty of time and hopefully that will stand to him in the long run,” Flavin said of the bay victor, who is owned by his breeders, Florence and Emily Lockwood.

“He is declared to run (second reserve) in a beginners’ chase at Tramore on Friday, but we will see how he is in the morning.”