It was a day to remember for Wicklow native James Walsh who registered his 50th winner between the flags when landing the Wright Concrete winners of two contest aboard High Stakes.
High Stakes was following up on his Ballingarry win last weekend when galloping his rivals into submission to win as he pleased. The son of Scorpion was clear of his rivals when his two nearest pursuers both came down at the final fence leaving the pair to come home alone.
Walsh got off to a flying start this season registering a double on the opening day of the Autumn campaign at Ballingarry.
His first winner came courtesy of Saratoga Lass who came home in front of the opening race of the day, the four-year-old mares maiden. The daughter of Valirann was one of seven newcomers in the race, the pair made a decisive move when sweeping through on the inner to lead after two out and kept on well close home to deny Boomtown Girl and Jack Hogan.
The 29-year-olds second winner of the afternoon came in the concluding race of the day, the six-year-old and upwards maiden aboard High Stakes. The son of Scorpion was trained and owned by the riders father John Edward Walsh.
Walsh has had the most success with his father who supplied him with 16 of his career wins, three of which were aboard the family owned Minimum Mix.
Patrick Sinnott provided Walsh his initial success after he partnered Shokalocka Baby to win at his local track, Tinahely in January 2009.
The Wicklow native struck up a successful partnership with leading handler Donnchadh Doyle, where he has partnered 12 winners to date one of which included Deploy The Getaway who was subsequently sold to Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins for £200,000 after winning his maiden by 20 lengths at Tallow.
Walsh has been associated with plenty more promising point-to-pointers during his career and some of those graduates he has guided to victory include, Mossy Fenn, Bravesmangame, Trumps Benefit and Thatsy.
