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You are > Home > Locals involved in steward’s enquiry at Wexford races
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
Locals involved in steward’s enquiry at Wexford races
THERE WAS a thrilling finish to the Hilary Murphy Travel Handicap Chase at Bettyville Park last Friday evening with two Wexford trained horses, Old Hall, (5/2 fav.) and Hatton’s Wood, (25/1), finishing only a short-head apart.
However, following a steward’s enquiry, the placings were reversed, with Willie Codd’s charge, Old Hall, being declared the winner.
Hatton’s Wood, owned by Christopher Hatton, who bred the gelding at Wells, Gorey, and trained by Philip Redmond at Ballygarrett, finished the post first with Andrew Thornton up.
Old Hall, jointly owned by Sean Howlett, Bridgetown, and Scott Mernagh, Moorefields, Rathaspick, and ridden by Barry Geraghty, was just tipped off, but was awarded the race in the steward’s room.
Sun Tzu was a heavy faller at the last fence on the first circuit – his jockey Adrian Heskin was trapped underneath the horse and was removed to Wexford General Hospital suffering from concussion – and consequently the last fence was omitted.
This is the second consecutive fixture in which this situation has occurred and on both occasions the horses fighting out a tight finish got too close to each other.
This time the stewards reversed the result and while the Hatton’s Wood camp were naturally disappointed, it was celebrations for Willie Codd’s Mayglass stables and for the four punters who gained financially as a result of their jackpot investment.
This was the only local winner on an evening when the weather was pleasant, the ground was yielding, and there was an excellent attendance.
The first four races were won on the flat and some of the biggest names in Irish racing were victorious, starting with the Dermot Weld trained, well-bred, Treasure The Cross, (2/1), in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden. Pat Smullen was the successful jockey.
That veteran of the Curragh, Kevin Prendergast, who rode many bumper winners around Wexford in the late 1950s and 1960s, didn’t grace the occasion with his presence, but he saddled Cloud Fire, (10/1), ridden by Declan McDonagh, who scored by a length in the Belmont Handicap.
John ‘Shark’ O’Hanlon won the Blackstairs Claiming Race with One For Joules, (8/1), ridden by apprentice, Martin Harley.
“The ground is the key factor. She loved that ground. She goes to Galway on Thursday,” said the Carlow trainer.
Midnight Soprano, (5/2 fav.) was another Curragh trained winner in the Clonard Maiden Race. Victory for trainer Paul Deegan and leading jockey, Fran Berry.
The Crown Bar Beginners’ Chase was a competitive race won by Salesin, (9/2), owned by the legendary J.P. McManus, trained by Niall ‘Boots’ Madden, and excellently handled by his son, Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden.
The margin was seven lengths; runner-up was Ireland’s Call, trained at Tinahely by Philip Rothwell for the Brothers in Arms Syndicate, who didn’t enjoy much punter support at 20/1.
The concluding race was the bumper – the Ballindinas INH Flat Race – where the 7/4 favourite, Battling Boru, trained by Tony Mullins for the Shoot A Hoop Syndicate, a group of seven from Athlone, sent the punters home happy with a four lengths success under a fine ride from Pat Murphy.
“A horse for the future,” said trainer Mullins, who added that the gelding is related to the famous long distance champion Galmoy family.
It was a pleasant evening’s racing. Definitely a holiday atmosphere about, with three winning favourites, a local winner, and overall some very competitive action.
The jackpot pool benefitted from a carry-over from Leopardstown of €692 from the previous evening and it was well supported to reach €5,000. Four lucky punters found the jackpot combination and each were rewarded with €937 for a modest investment.
The Tote returns were €65,302.73, compared with €72,591 last year. Racing returns to Bettyville Park very quickly and the next fixture takes place on Friday, August 6th.
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