Happy D’Ex preserved her unbeaten record at Fairyhouse on Tuesday afternoon when taking the Irish EBF Mares point-to-point bumper under Jamie Codd.
The French-bred Saddler Maker mare was bought by Gordon Elliott and Mouse O’Ryan for £195,000 after she had won a Dromahane maiden by a wide margin for Denis Murphy back in May.
Returning for the first time since, the grey was sent off as the 2/5 favourite, however her supporters did have some moments of concern with her workman like success not guaranteed all the way up the home straight when she was strongly pressed by Colin McBratney’s Mora runner-up Alpine Annie under Oran McGill.
It was only the closing stages that Happy D’Ex began to get on top as she went on to record a hard-fought success by half-a-length, with Bonne Debut, a debut victor for Mark Scallan at Monksgrange in September, a further nine and a half lengths back in third.
The success for Codd continues a recent good spell for the former champion point-to-point rider who is enjoying a 50% strike rate with five of his last ten rides in the past 14 days winning.
Winning trainer Gordon Elliott indicated that Happy D'Ex could be destined to a Listed mares bumper at Navan, but if not taking up that engagement, she would be sent over hurdles.