Slevin clan to the fore at Wexford race meet
Local connections enjoy plentiful success in the sun
JOCKEY J.J. Slevin and his trainer dad, Shay, were the star turns at the Wexford races at Bettyville on Wednesday, a meeting where local connections enjoyed considerable success in beautiful weather conditions.
The small attendance was treated to some exciting racing by big fields, including a result reversed by the stewards, and quite a few long-priced winners.
J.J. Slevin from Caim is a rising jockey on the Irish scene, having won the Irish Grand National last Easter in great style on General Principle, and he advertised his abilities with an 88/1 double, one of them a real bargain-buy trained by his dad, Shay.
That was in Division 2 of the Loch Garman Handicap Hurdle where In A Pinch (10/1) came in under a fine ride by J.J. for his Ballygarrett owners, Peter and Karen Sinnott, who got the horse at the sales for €800.
He took it up before the last and kept on well to beat Seán Flanagan on Eoin Doyle’s Ingleby Mackenzie (7/2jf) by one and three parts of a length.
Trainer Shay Slevin was delighted with the run by the five-year-old which gave him his first track winner for a couple of years: ‘She is well handicapped, so hopefully she’ll be able to get the job done again. She is small so I’d say she will stay over hurdles.’
J.J. had opened the meeting with a win on Cut Em Down (20/1 in the morning into 7/1) in the Welcome to Wexford Racecourse maiden hurdle, trained by his cousin, Joseph O’Brien, who was celebrating his 25th birthday on the day.
Much of the running was cut out by Seán Flanagan on another Gigginstown runner, Cote Tete (5/1), trained by Noel Meade. But Slevin took it up three out and won easily by six lengths from Andrew Lynch on Pallaskenry (11/4f), with Cote Tete fading into a distant third.
Harley Dunne plies his trade mainly on the point-to-point circuit, though he has had a successful partnership on the track with Seán Thomas Doyle’s Crosshue Boy, but he pulled off a shock win in the Rosslare Mares’ handicap hurdle with 20/1 shot, My Betty, trained in Wicklow by Peter Croke.
He took it up at the last to go clear on the run-in. The horse had last won at Bettyville almost two years ago.
She was being reined in at the end by the fast-finishing Trans Wood (14/1) which got in as a reserve and showed plenty of promise. Trained at Knockmullen House, New Ross, by Gordon Doyle, and owned by former Gusserane footballer, Patsy Farrell, the horse was lit up in the closing stages by young Tomhaggard claimer, Tiernan Power-Roche.
Unfortunately, the Colin Bowe-trained Regal D’argent, ridden by Paddy Kennedy, suffered a fatal fall in this race and the rider was removed to Wexford hospital with suspected concussion.
Conor O’Dwyer, the former Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle star, was brought up a couple of stones throws away from Wexford racecourse though he has trained for a good few years in Kildare.
He had his second winner at the track in two meetings as I’ve Got Rhythm (9/4jf) broke his maiden after seven attempts in the Loch Garman Handicap Hurdle, under Ricky Doyle.
He out-battled Denis Hogan’s Montauk Flyer (7/1) by three parts of a length on the run-in, with James O’Sullivan (Camolin) staying on with the Noel Dooly (Davidstown) Masterchippy (25/1) to edge third place.
There was a dramatic conclusion to the €15,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF handicap chase as the Paul Power-trained gamble, Bakers Street (16/1 in the morning into 5/1 SP), fought out an extended duel up the home straight under seven pound claimer Jeanie Cook, with Dark Outsider (8/1), trained in Cork by James Dullea and ridden by Danny Mullins.
They flashed past the post with Bakers Street leading by a head, but they had come very close together over the final two furlongs as they moved around the dolled off final fence and the stewards decided to enquire.
There wasn’t much in it but after a lengthy hearing they reversed the first two placings and awarded the race to Dark Outsider. Seán Flanagan was third on David M. O’Brien’s Icelip (9/1).
Veteran Waterford trainer, John Kiely, who has been at the game since 1953, is still enjoying it as much as ever and was beaming when welcoming back Master Appeal (2/1f) after his victory under Andrew Lynch in the Vinegar Hill Beginners’ Chase. Master Appeal had to overcome career-threatening setbacks to make this triumphant return after 278 days off the track.
Denis Hogan from Cloughjordan, Tipperary, is one of the most successful trainer-riders in the game and he collected again with Mezajy in the €16,000 Slaney Handicap Hurdle, ahead of Vincent Halley’s Mr. Picotee (5/1) and Edward O’Grady’s Le Vagabond (2/1f).
The concluding bumper went the way of Willie and Patrick Mullins, with Dorrells Pierji (9/4jf) pulling well clear of Court Maid (6/1) under Richie Deegan and early pace-setter, Dinons (9/4jf), ridden for Gordon Elliott by Lisa O’Neill.
They race again at Wexford on Wednesday, June 6.