TOOMEBRIDGE returned to its October slot having sat out 2021, and it appeared as though nothing had changed as the results of both 2020 and 2022 fixtures will record that not only did Colin Bowe record an opening race double, but Wexford handlers also went home with most of the spoils and another of their winners was also disqualified for taking the wrong course.

The bookmakers had little difficulty installing Bowe’s Sheeka Supreme (1/1 - 5/4) as the favourite for the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden at a course where experience would count.

She had twice finished second last term and duly looked more professional than some of her rivals as Barry O’Neill carried the Milestone Bloodstock colours to a smooth six-length success.

“It is great to get the first winner so early and Barry [O’Neill] was very pleased with her,” Bowe commented. “He said that she will still improve further for that run and she seems to be a nice sort who will now be sold.”

Half an hour later the champion handler met O’Neill back in the winner’s enclosure for a second time after Waspy (1/1 - 5/4 favourite) had collected the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Doyen gelding, a close relation to Our Victoria who Bowe and O’Neill had both enjoyed much success with in the past, and it was quite telling just how slickly he jumped throughout, and although Kap Chidley rallied strongly in the closing stages to call in the judge, the result had never seemed in doubt until the dying strides, with a head the winning margin.

Drama

The season-opening fixture was once again not short of drama as the favourite Kalnoo had made most of the running in isolation for much of the journey in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

However, she went the wrong side of the flag after fence two on each circuit which made for a slightly false race as the following riders could see what happened and never chased with any real conviction thereafter.

This section of the course is hidden from view from the crowd who were initially happy to see the favourite oblige, only to look on confused as to why Jack Hendrick, who rode the second past the post Frankly Fine (2/1 - 3/1), walked into the winner’s enclosure to have his picture taken before heading to the stewards enquiry for the formalities.

The stewards confirmed Kalnoo’s rider Pa King had indeed taken the wrong course, and the amended result saw Sean Doyle’s daughter of Court Cave credited with a debut success in the colours of the Monbeg Partnership.

Haddock a first for Higgins

COLIN BOWE was not the only Wexford handler to enjoy an opening race double, with his feat being match by the Baltimore Stables team of Ellen Doyle and her brother James, with their opening victory for Haddock De Grissay (7/1 - 3/1 co-favourite) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden proving to be a notable result for winning rider Darragh Higgins.

The 20-year-old Cork native recorded his first ever success as he had the French-bred at the fore of the chasing pack as the Brian Dunleavy ridden Ballygeary had opened up a wide margin lead heading out on the final circuit.

Higgins showed experience beyond his years in the purple silks of the Baltimore Stables Syndicate, as he gradually led the chasing pack to reel in the leader. Showing no signs of panic, he duly hit the front at the last and the pair went away to win comfortably.

Higgins had previously ridden the five-year-old in a bumper and revealed afterwards that he didn’t come from a racing family but had started helping someone local to break horses near home in Ballymodan and then went to work for Colin Motherway, for whom he now splits his week with the Doyle’s Wexford yard.

The Doyle double was swiftly completed in the winner-of-one contest, a five-runner race that included three maidens, however, it was her Dromahane victor Master Splinter (4/5 – 1/1 favourite) who was sent off as the short-priced favourite.

Making all the running under last season’s champion under-21 rider Brian Dunleavy, he looked in control coming to the final fence, but the maiden pair of Ballyrashane and Old Style Rumour ensured his rider had to shake up this winner to go and score by three lengths.

“It is great to see the horses are healthy and well,” Doyle’s brother James said. “This fellow won a nice maiden at Dromahane and has done his job well there.

“We will see how he comes out of the race and obviously they are all for sale but we wouldn’t rule out another winners race as he did that very well.”

McCaldin’s home win

CAROLINE MCCALDIN was the only non-Wexford handler to get on the scoreboard when her Ballymagee (3/1 – 7/2) claimed the concluding older maiden to gain some compensation for having hit the crossbar earlier on the card with Ballygeary in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Placed over hurdles at Catterick back in December, the Kayf Tara gelding was making his first competitive outing in almost 10 months, however, he defied that lack of any recent race fitness by accounting for the previously placed Gouazec by five lengths to provide Brian Dunleavy with a double on the card.

“He is a nice type and I look forward to sending him out for a winners’ race in the next couple of weeks,” McCaldin said of the six-year-old who carried the colours of her husband Alan.

“Our horses had run well earlier in the day so it is nice to come away from the opening day with a winner!” she added.

Brendas Asking (A. Fitzgerald): The Ask mare ran a big race around a course that can be challenging for a horse that had fallen on their latest outing, and was only denied by a more experienced rival. She looks a winning in waiting for the coming weeks.