Codd the treble star at Tinahely
THERE WAS a good turn-out in nice weather conditions at Fairwood Park, Tinahely, on Sunday for the Shillelagh and District Hunt point to point meeting and star of the show was the veteran, Jamie Codd, who recorded a treble on a day dominated by Wexford connections.
A feature was the spread of winners with riders Shane Fitzgerald, Shane O’Rourke and Tiernan Power Roche and handlers Mick Goff, Vincent Devereux and Michael R. Murphy all scoring seasonal firsts.
Jamie Codd and Denis Murphy kept up their impressive start to the season with victory in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Honest Exchange (Gold Well), ten lengths clear of ‘Paddy’ Scallan on Seán Doyle’s What About Time.
Codd finished with a double for David O’Brien from Piltown, with Leeswood Lily in the five-year-old plus mares’ maiden and Ran Rite in the older geldings’ maiden, where Tiernan Roche Power was second on Michael Murphy’s Scottish Accent. Codd leads the way at this early stage with seven wins after three weekends.
Michael Goff from Clondaw, Ferns, scored with Nelson’s Rock (Mount Nelson), in the four-year-old maiden, and it was a nice way for stable jockey Shane Fitzgerald to mark his birthday.
Vincent and Jimmy Devereux, Rostoonstown, and rider Shane O’Rourke (Foulksmills) took the mares’ winner of one with Getawaytonewbay (Getaway), five lengths clear, while Tiernan Power Roche (Tomhaggard) opened his account in the Open race on Better B Quick for Michael Murphy and the Redbridge Stables, Duncormick, Michael’s first winner in his own name.
They beat the big guns as Jamie Codd was second on Gordon Elliott’s Vyta Du Roc and Barry O’Neill third on Andrew McNamara’s Val De Ferbet.
There was a strong Wexford showing at Portrush up North on Saturday and Rob James had another double.
e won Division 1 of the four-year-old maiden by two lengths with Press Your Luck (out of Doyen) for Donnchadh Doyle and the Monbeg Syndicate, with Jordan Gainford(Caim) second on Bold Soldier for Warren Ewing, with the pair also taking second in Division 2 with Bold Enough.
James doubled up in the Winner of Three with Some Man for David Christie, from Codd and Luke Murphy.
Codd and Denis Murphy took the five-yearold geldings’ maiden with Hard Ground (by Malinas), from debutant, Whitechurch, for Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe.
O’Neill got on the board thanks to his old ally, Christie, in the Open race on Eddies Miracle, and it was a bit of a miracle as this one was back after a life threatening injury suffered 11 months ago.
They race next Saturday at Loughanmore, Co. Antrim, and at Dowth Hall, Co. Meath, and Knockinroe near Templemore, Tipperary on Sunday.