FOR THE RECORD
HERE I give a detailed breakdown of all the Wexford winners during the past season, doing my best to give due credit to all concerned. THE RIDERS 1, Barry O’Neill (66, beating seasonal best of 59 last season); 2, Jamie Codd (65); 4, Rob James (43, smashing his seasonal best of 25 last year).
Other Wexford placings: 10, Harley Dunne (15, seasonal best); 11, Jimmy O’Rourke (14, a seasonal best); 12, Shane Fitzgerald (13, more than double last year’s tally).
Others: Gearóid Doyle, young brother of the Monbeg trainers (seven in his first season); Benny Walsh, Murrintown (seven); Luke Murphy, Inch (five); Gary Murphy, Ballycullane (four); Eddie Keating, Gusserane (three); Shane O’Rourke (three).
Two each: John Kenny, Craanford (his first winners); Conor Murphy, Ramsgrange; Mark Scallan, Cleariesown; Jamie ‘Paddy’ Scallan, Tomhaggard; 17-years-old Andrew Walsh, Duncormick (first winners).
Also among the winners were: Keith Cogley, Ballintubber, New Ross; Tiernan Roche, Tomhaggard; Aaron Sinnott, Enniscorthy (first winner); Barry Walsh, Ballyday, Gorey. THE TRAINERS There were eight Wexford trainers in the top 20, including the top three in the table: 1, Colin Bowe, 32; 2, Donnchadh Doyle, 27; 3, Denis Paul Murphy, 25.
Sharing eighth place were Seán Thomas Doyle and James W. Doyle (eleven each); sharing eleventh, Willie Codd (ten); 15, Michael Goff (nine); sharing 20th, Liam Kenny (seven).
Others included: John Paul Brennan (five), Ashleigh Murphy, Duncormick (five); three each - Cormac Doyle (in his first season); John H. Murphy, Inch; Richard O’Keeffe, Taghmon; Pierce Michael Power, The Hook, and Shay Slevin, Kiltrea, Enniscorthy.
Two each: Michael F. Bates, Kilmore; Brian Jordan, Rathangan; Benny Walsh, Murrintown (the veteran rider’s first winners as a trainer).
Others on the board included John A. Berry; Richard Black and Anthony Black, Bunclody father and son; Michael Cullen, New Ross; Daryl Deacon, Clonroche; Liz Doyle; William J. Martin, Clonhaston, Enniscorthy; Denis Moore, Kilmore; Michael John Murphy, Kilmore; Bernadette Murphy, Blackwater; Paul Martin Pierce, Killurin; Kieran Roche, Adamstown, and John Walsh, Ballyday, Gorey.
My apologies if anybody has been missed out.
Congratulations to trainer John Paul Brennan, Monasootha, Camolin, who had a big win in France a couple of weeks ago with his nine-year-old Need to Know, ridden by Benny Walsh. They made the trip to Le Lion D’Angers for a two-mile six-furlong race over a cross-country type course and 33 obstacles.
He ran out a two lengths winner. This follows on from his cross-country win at the Punchestown Festival and nine career point-to-point wins. The same French race was won by Denis Murphy’s banks specialist, Theroadtocroker, under Paul Gahan, four years ago.