Slevin’s sweet win
in mid-division before gradually creeping into contention after the third last, and the Gigginstown-owned 12/1 shot stormed up the hill to see off Verni by two and a half lengths.
The jockey admitted afterwards fate was on his side.
‘I was lucky the ride came up and I put a call in and got it, but then I got offered another ride and Gordon wouldn’t let me off him. He’s travelled everywhere, jumped every hurdle and was a winner all the way really,’ he said.
Slevin’s triumph was also a champagne moment for trainer Gordon Elliott as it clinched the trainer’s title for the Meath man after a ding-dong battle with Willie Mullins.
‘Gordon’s had an unbelievable week and it’s a privilege to ride for him,’ said Slevin.
Nine Wexford jockeys took part in the Festival - Daryl Jacob and Tom O’Brien, who are based in England, as well as Seán Flanagan, Jamie Codd, J.J. Slevin, Mikey Fogarty, Jonathan Moore, Barry O’Neill and Harley Dunne.
Davidstown native Daryl Jacob hit the crossbar, coming close to getting his third festival win on the board, finishing in the frame on five occasions, ending the week with three seconds and two thirds to his name.
He was second on the Nicky Henderson-trained Top Notch in the Grade 1 JLT Novices Chase on Thursday, a length adrift of hot favourite Yorkhill, with the 6/4 shot getting the potent Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh partnership off the mark for the week.
On the final day of the Festival, Jacob again finished in the runners-up berth as 25/1 chance L’ami Serge was just a neck adrift of Arctic Fire in the County Hurdle, with Tom O’Brien on board Ozzie The Oscar a neck further back in third.
Jacob finished third on board the Alan King-trained 8/1 chance Messire Des Obeaux in the Grade 1 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday.
On Friday, the Jacob-ridden 13/2 shot Wholestone, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, was third in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle behind Penhill.
In the final race of the Festival, Jacob notched another second place finish on board 20/1 chance Gardefort, losing out by a length and three quarters to the Jessica Harrington-trained and Robbie Power-ridden Rock The World, who were completing a memorable double after winning the Gold Cup with Sizing John.
Meath man Power is a son of Fethard-on-Sea native, Captain Con Power, who was part of the all-conquering Irish showjumping Nations Cup teams in the 1970s and 80s, and Margaret (nee Latta).
Last Goodbye, a 22/1 shot, saddled by Crossabeg trainer Liz Doyle finished in a creditable fifth place in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase on the opening day of the festival. HERE WILL be a Bank Holiday Monday start for the Wexford Minor footballers, and it will be a chance for some revenge as they will be at home to Offaly, their conquerors in last year’s quarter-final, on April 17.
Kilkenny have withdrawn from the championship after the humiliation of losing by a cricket score to the Slaneysiders in 2016.
As a result, one preliminary round game was required and Wexford and Offaly came out of the hat, with the winners set to take on Westmeath on the following Saturday, April 22. If the Model county lads march on, that game will be at an away venue.
And if they lose at that first or second hurdle, Wexford will still get a chance to advance via the qualifiers which are slated for May 6, with the quarter-finals to follow a fortnight later.
Meanwhile, on the Minor hurling front, the first game for the purple and gold will see them pitted against one of the winners from Kilkenny v. Westmeath, or Laois v. Offaly, on April 15, with the draw yet to be made.
Victory would result in a semi-final place, while a loss would lead to a chance to make amends via the quarter-final.
The new Under-17 competitions in both codes will also be awaited with interest. The hurlers are due to face either Kilkenny, Westmeath or Offaly on April 19, while the footballers will host Offaly on Friday, June 23.
On the Senior front, the football clash against Carlow will be at 3 p.m. in Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday, May 21.
And in the event of a win, the Sky cameras will be in Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday, June 3, for live coverage of the quarter-final versus All-Ireland champions Dublin.
The hurlers’ quarter-final against one of the round robin teams will be on Saturday or Sunday, May 27 or 28, with Kilkenny awaiting in the last four - another fixture live on Sky - on Saturday, June 10, at 7 p.m. in Innovate Wexford Park if we’re involved.