Codd bags a treble Superb day’s racing enjoyed at Fairwood Park
at Fairwood Park
SHILLELAGH and District Hunt held its annual point to point meeting in Fairwood Park grounds on Sunday, October 20.
This popular meeting in the heartland of Wicklow is well known for its undulating course and uphill finish.
Every year keen P2P fans flock to the venue for great racing, exciting views and on last Sunday beautiful sunny weather.
The track, a two round affair, is laid out below the natural viewing platform. Intrepid fans can walk down to favourite fences to view first hard the breath-taking view of the full field jumping the brush fences – a pastime guaranteed to raise the heart rate of even the most jaundiced racing fan.
One of the early meetings and the first in Wicklow, the October meeting offers local trainers, owners and jockeys an opportunity to stretch their legs and that of their equines. And on Sunday the races did not disappoint.
The first race opened at 2pm to an already strong crowd, possibly one of the strongest in recent years demonstrating that P2P meetings are becoming more popular than ever. The ‘kids go free’ approach also allows the meeting to attract families to enjoy the day.
Race number one was the fouryear-old maiden sponsored by ‘Barney’ Deegan of Winners Enclosure Bookmakers. An exciting start with a large field, the winning horse, Nelson’s Rock was ridden by Shane Fitzgerald.
The recent rain meant the course was yielding to soft which suited the winner owned by Caitriona Goff and trained by Michael Goff.
Runners up were Minella Wizard, ridden by J Barry, trained by John Nallen, and Sponthus, ridden by B Harvey and trained by PMJ Doyle. Ten started but six finished.
Next up, the Goffs UK ‘Autumn P2P Sale (24 Oct)’ five-year-old Gelding Maiden was won by race favourite Honest Exchange, ridden by Jamie Codd and trained by Denis Murphy.
There was no doubt as to this result with the winner passing the post a good ten lengths ahead of the rest of the pack. Runner up was What about Time, ridden by Jamie L Scallan, and trained by Sean Doyle. In third place was Choctaw Brave, ridden by Kevin Corrigan, and trained by Bernadette Murphy. Of the seven that began only three finished.
The third race, the Mares Winner of One, boasted seven entries and five finished. The winning horse was Getawaytonewbay, ridden by Shane O’Rourke and trained by Vincent Devereux. Coming in at second place was
Shuil Luas ridden by Liz Lawlor and trained by Tom Keating. Third was Save us Avis ridden by P Banon and trained by Peter Flood.
The fourth race, an Open, was won by Better B Quick, ridden by T Power Roche and trained by Michael Murphy.
Second was Vyta Du Roc ridden, by Jamie Codd and trained by Gordon Elliot.
Third past the post was Val de Ferbet, ridden by B O’Neill and trained by Andrew McNamara. A close finish with Better B Quick only pulling ahead at the final fence.
The five-year-old Mares’ Maiden saw Leeswood Lily grab the honours, ridden by Jamie Codd and trained by David O’Brien, by a five length advantage over Mamaslittlestar, ridden by P.C. Bannon and trained by Gary
Carson. Bringing up the rear in third was Style it Out, ridden by J Scallen and trained by Sean Thomas Doyle.
The last race – still in glorious sunshine – was the six-yearold Geldings Maiden, ridden by Jamie Codd and trained by David O’Brien, giving Jamie his third winner of the day. Second place went to Scottish Accent, ridden by TP Roche and trained by Michael Murphy. Bringing in third was Quill Road, ridden by Harley Dunne and trained by local trainer PJ Rothwell.
All up a great day out and much enjoyed by the large crowd in the great sunshine. It is hard to beat the Shillelagh P2P meeting in the sunshine, the next Point to Point at Fairwood Park is the Wicklow Hunt P2P on Sunday, November 17.