CODD WINS EPIC BATTLE

is now well known - she won a bumper at 33/1 for Richie Rath (Screen) at Naas in November under J.J. Slevin when owned by two Wexford couples; Jamie then bought the horse at the sales for her current owners and rode her to a big win at Fairyhouse and then the champion bumper at Cheltenham.

This is just the latest milestone in Codd’s outstanding career since he had his first point-to-point and track winners in 2001. In recent years he has been concentrating more on the point-to-point circuit where he has had over 800 winners, only exceeded by multiple champion, Derek O’Connor, and he has been champion twice. He also won the Amateur Derby at Epsom in 2016 on J.J. Quinn’s Hubertus.

His 41 track winners this season has been his best by far; he had 24 way back in the 2003-’04 season, and only had six last year.

He can now concentrate on retaining his point-to-point title but has a big task as he trailed Barry O’Neill from Ballindaggin by eight on Sunday evening.

He received his trophy from Horse Racing Ireland chairman, Joe Keeling.

Other Wexford jumps riders also had a good season. Seán Flanagan (Palace East) finished in sixth place in the championship with 46 winners, exceeding his previous best tally of 30 a year earlier. Jamie Codd was eleventh with his 41 winners with a 31% win strike rate, second only to Ruby Walsh.

J.J. Slevin was 18th with 20 winners, a very promising start in the professional ranks. He was one place ahead of Mikey Fogarty with 19 wins; Jonathan More was 34th with 12. A total of 138 riders actually rode winners in the season.

Liz Doyle of Crossabeg finished 14th in the trainers’ championship with 18 winners, her best total, just exceeding the 17 she achieved twice in recent years.