Super day’s racing at Fairwood Park
THE Wicklow Hunt returned to Fairwood Park for a second year, after a 21-year absence, to run their point to point on Sunday last. It was a beautiful day and some great horse racing was enjoyed by many, followed by a pony race.
The first race which was sponsored by Mill House Veterinary, WMQS and Bastion, and was dominated by Wexford trainers and was won by On My Wish List trained by Mary Doyle in Enniscorthy and ridden by Luke Murphy from Inch who powered clear up the hill to win in good style.
The runner up was Flaming Glory trained by Denis Murphy and ridden by Jamie Codd.
The second race sponsored by The Veterinary Hospital, Gorey, was won by Would You Bypass trained in Ballindaggin by Cormac Doyle and was ridden by the 19-year-old Jack Hendrick to give Jack his first winner. The runner up was Maine Danger trained by Nigel Slevin and ridden by L J McGuinness.
The third race, sponsored by Sheridan Colohan Insurance Brokers, again went to a Wexford trainer, John Paul Brennan from Camolin.
No Hidden Charges dug deep on the run to the last to fend off a number of challengers and was ridden by James Walsh, no stranger to the winners enclosure in Fairwood.
The runner up was trained by Donnchadh Doyle and ridden by Rob James with the odds-on favourite Presenting Europe ridden by Jamie Codd in third place.
The fourth race, sponsored by Doran W O’Toole Solicitors, was won by Ballinasilla, trained in Blackwater by Bernadette Murphy and gave jockey Luke Murphy his second winner of the day.
The runner up was recent course winner No More Monkeys trained by John Walsh, Preban, and ridden by James Walsh.
The fifth race, sponsored by T Swaine & Sons Ltd and Kavanagh Tarmac Ltd, was won by the odds on favourite Gordon Elliott trained Kruzhlinn under jockey Barry O’Neill. This horse is owned by Camilla Sharples, travelling head lass for Gordon, who rode the winner of the Up The Yard race at Punchestown the previous afternoon.
The runner up was Loggan Lady trained locally by John Walsh, Ballyday, and ridden by Barry Walsh.
The sixth race of the day, sponsored by The Red Rider and Peaky Bennett, was won by Bog Lane Baby in a thrilling finish.
This horse is trained by Willie Murphy in Rathoe and was ridden by his wife, Moira McElligott. The runner up was Getaway Home trained by Peter McCreery and ridden by C Nugent.
The day concluded with a pony race kindly sponsored by Killacloran Connemaras with four ponies going to post.
The mounted stewards on the day led the field to set the pace and turning up the hill for the finish they pulled off the track when the ponies really got down to race.
The winner was Aine Sharry of the Shillelagh Pony Club riding Windsong Timeless and runner up was another Shillelagh Pony Club member, Rachel Darcy, riding Pepes Jess.