Former champion point-to-point rider Jamie Codd has a close affinity with Tinahely, and on Sunday got his season off the mark when registering a double.
Codd’s first winner of the afternoon came courtesy of the Harry Kelly-handled Thegallantway, who justified favouritism to land the Goffs UK Autumn P2P Sale five-year-old geldings’ maiden
.
The newcomer son of Stowaway, mounted his challenge in the straight and in a matter of strides pulled 12 lengths clear of the field.
Jimmy Kelly brother of the winning handler said: “He was a very backward horse and it has taken him a good while to get to where he is now. We had him in last year but he was still a bit weak. He was quite green today and I told Jamie to just take a bit of a lead. He won nicely and will probably be for sale now.”
Lough Derg Rose supplied the Wexford rider with his second winner of the afternoon when landing the mares’ winner of one by a convincing four-length margin.
The Denis Murphy-trained individual, who was making her first appearance in winners company, took up the running approaching the second-last and kept on gamely to deny last week’s Moira victor Summons To Court.
This was a very poignant success for her owner Pat Coffey and his family as the mare was purchased by his nephew Patrick McCormack who sadly passed away in January.
An elated Coffey said: “Patrick bought her privately and she won up the North and then I bought her back at Cheltenham as I know she is a very good mare. She is still for sale but I am anxious to run her in a bumper.”
Mick Goff and Shane Fitzgerald combined to land the opening Winners Enclosure Bookmakers four-year-old maiden with exciting newcomer De Forgotten One.
The son of Malinas received an enterprising ride from his young jockey, who had marked his 21st birthday a day earlier, as the pair made all aboard the Catriona Goff owned-gelding to register an eight-length victory over On My Wish List.
Wexford handler Mick Goff afterwards said: “We bought this lad at Doncaster as a yearling because we had his half-brother The Two Amigos and thought he was a good horse. This fellow jumps, travels and is as genuine as you will get. He is a lovely horse and I am delighted for Shane.”
Despite only three horses going to post for the ITM Ladies open lightweight, it provided spectators with a thrilling finish, with Sheila Ahern and Gabriellamee getting up in the closing stages to deny Eddies Miracle and After Eight Sivola, who had to settle for a share of the second place.
The nine-year-old mare, who appeared to be caught for toe approaching the third-last, kept on gallantly in the straight to score by two-lengths.
A delighted winning rider Sheila Ahern said: “I tried to make the running going down the hill but I thought I was beaten down the bottom. I jumped the two fences in the straight very well and I thought the two horses in front were getting very tired. She is better on better ground and she is not the fastest in the world but she is tough and stays on well.”
Wexford handler Shane Byrne registered his second winner of the season when An Rinceoir Alainn took the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden in the hands of Harley Dunne.
The daughter of Gold Well, who was making her career debut, showed a willing attitude to get up and deny the short-priced favourite Kiera Royale by three lengths.
“She was meant to run last year but she just went wrong so I let her off. We really fancied her today and she is very good to jump,” said Wexford-based Byrne.
“She has won first time out and she has a good pedigree so we will bring her to the sales now.”
The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden when the locally owned, trained and ridden No More Monkeys came home in front under James Walsh.
The Simon Joe Kenny-owned gelding, who had previously been enjoying a stint on the track, stayed well on the run-in to deny the Philip Rothwell-handled Ask Harry.
Local handler John Walsh said: “He was working very well with the other horse who won yesterday, so we fancied this lad today. He is a grand horse and his plan for the long term will be to go back to the track.”
