ROUND-UP Seven races Friday
HORSE RACING Bettyville to host first evening meet
WEXFORD RACECOURSE hosts a seven-race afternoon-evening card on Friday with €84,000 on offer in prize money. The flag falls on the first at 4.35 p.m. and it concludes with a mares’ bumper at 7.35 p.m.
In my opinion the Friday fixtures have always been the most popular at Bettyville, and this is the first of just three of those this season. The card includes four hurdles, two chases and the bumper, and if the weather gods are kind, it should be an entertaining evening, though the start may be a little early for some.
For those who might like to head up straight from work, there is an attractive offer - admission and a two-course meal at Phelim Byrne’s Séisiúr restaurant overlooking the parade ring and the track for €30. Advance booking is necessary on 087-382099.
Action begins with the threemile Rated Novice Hurdle for €12,000, followed by the €11,000 maiden hurdle over two and a half miles at 5.05 p.m.
The third is the most valuable race of the evening, the €16,000 Oulart Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles, timed for 5.35 p.m., with the last of the hurdles being the 80-95 rated handicap over two miles, worth €10,000.
The first of the two €12,000 chases goes off at 6.35 p.m., a mares’ race for beginners over two miles, followed by the extended three miles handicap at 7.05 p.m., and racing concludes with the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund mares’ bumper over two miles.
Meanwhile, there were three good-priced Wexford riding successes at Navan on Saturday. Jonathan Moore (Adamstown) sluiced up on two winners for a 204/1 double for trainer Tom Gibney from Trim, Co Meath - Next Bend (16/1) and Stoughan Cross (11/1).
Not to be outdone, Mikey Fogarty (Cleariestown) was equally decisive on Seskinane (also 16/1) for Limerick trainer, Brian McMahon, the horse’s first win in 23 attempts over four years.
Fogarty doubled up at Fairyhouse on Sunday with a brilliant ride on From Eden (backed from 10/1 in the morning to 9/2) for Val O’Brien. It was a first winner after twelve years in racing for Galway owner, Jackie Kenny - a ray of hope for all struggling owners!
At Limerick on Thursday, Seán Flanagan picked up a handy €8,000-plus for second on Noel Meade’s Twiss’s Hill in the featured €42,000 graded novice chase. He led but had no answer to odds-on favourite General Principle (4/5) in the closing stages.
In Britain, Tom O’Brien got off to a winning start on Monday with Thepartysover (10/3) at Plumpton for Paul Henderson. It was a Wexford blank then until Pat McDonald won on hot-shot Full Intention (2/5) at Wolverhampton on Thursday.
Last weekend was notable for the return of Jimmy Fortune (Ferns) to the saddle for the first time since November. Now nearly 45, he has been campaigning in Britain since 1988 and has had nearly 1,800 winners.
He was second to Ryan Molore at the Doncaster Lincoln meeting on Saturday in the £45,000 Spring Mile Handicap on Sinfonietta (12/1) for David Menuisier.
Daryl Jacob went to Stratford for two rides for Emma Lavelle; he was fourth in the first race and then waited around for four hours to ride the unraced Gunfleet in the concluding bumper, and his time was not wasted as they won comfortably at a generous 16/1.