WEXFORD natives joined forces to claim three races on offer at Bettyville on Friday evening last, with Joyeux Machin (7/2) landing the feature Slaney River Rated Novice Chase.

With the fences in the straight omitted due to the low trajectory of the sun, it resulted in a narrow run-in and plenty of scrimmaging inside the final two-furlongs.

While short of room when bypassing two out, the Paul Nolan-trained victor got a clear run inside the final 200 yards and ultimately kept on best under Sean Flanagan, prevailing by a length and a quarter.

Owned by Rectory Road Holdings Limited, Nolan said of the six-year-old: “He disappointed us in Galway, he just ran a little bit flat.

“I thought he had a bit more bottle over a fence and maybe he will learn and get a bit more confidence with time. I’d say it wasn’t an inconvenience that the last two were omitted.”

Bounced back

Brideswell Lad also failed to make an impact at Galway, but he bounced back to form when justifying plenty of market support in the Download The Boylesports App Handicap Hurdle.

Trained by Seamus Neville and owned by his wife Ina, the Shirocco bay was sent off the 11/4 favourite (from 8s) under Sean O’Keeffe.

Settled in second and pushed along to challenge the front-running Our Bobby from two out, he was ridden to lead on the run-in and got the better of his aforementioned rival by a length and a half

“He had a decent mark over hurdles compared to his chase one. He is probably a better horse over fences but it’s nice to pick up another hurdle,” Neville enthused.

“He mightn’t get into the Kerry National, but there is a race on the Saturday of Listowel over two-mile-six (the Charlie Chute Memorial Handicap Chase) and we will probably look at that.”

Local success

The third local success came in the concluding Racing Again October 29th & 30th Handicap Chase, with Colin Bowe’s North Of Nashville (8/1 from 20s) easing to a 14-length success under Jordan Gainford.

Far from fluent over the first two, the Soldier Of Fortune bay soon warmed to her task. She took over from Rudy Catrail at the head of affairs three out and was ridden clear from the next.

Brendan Walsh, representing Bowe, commented: “I’m delighted for Leo McArdle who is from Castleblayney, as he is a good, loyal owner.

“She won a point-to-point well on debut and we thought that she was going to be a good lot smarter, but it just hasn’t panned out the way we thought.

“This was a low-grade race and in fairness the handicapper had given her a chance.”

Cheers ring out in Stadium success

DESPITE a drastic market drift, Stadium Talk (28/1 from 6s early) demolished her rivals in the Wexford Mares Maiden Hurdle, coming home 15-lengths to the good in the colours of the 119 Partnership.

Successful in a point-to-point at Ballinaboola and a bumper at Hexham, the John McConnell-trained chesnut disappointed on her hurdles debut at Down Royal.

In front for the majority of this three-mile heat, she was headed six out but regained the lead approaching the straight and quickly settled matters when ridden clear from the penultimate flight.

“She disappointed us at Down Royal where she burst. She didn’t show any sign of it before the race or since, so we were confident coming here,” the winning rider Ben Harvey revealed.

“She is a proper staying chaser in the making and has a good pedigree too, so she is a nice prospect to have.”

No Show was another successful chesnut on this seven-race programme, with his victory coming in the Dan Byrne Memorial Handicap Hurdle over two miles and half a furlong.

Trained by Jimmy Mangan and owned by a racing club in his name, the six-year-old was sent off at 14/1 and was settled towards rear by Phillip Enright, making good progress on the inner from three out.

Switched wide to challenge approaching two out, he gained a narrow lead before the final flight and kept on well under pressure from there, seeing off Banada Bridge by a length.

“All the credit has to go to Phillip Enright,” Mangan reflected.

“I thought after his run at Kilbeggan that the show was over because I was so disgusted with him. Phillip said draw a line through it and if you never put me up on him again, I don’t mind because I gave him a terrible ride.

“I said to Phillip we will go again but there is no one else riding him only you.”

ALREADY a dual winner on the level, Boher Road stylishly opened his account over flights, making all and coming home with 19-lengths to spare in the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle over two miles and half a furlong.

Dominant from flag fall under Peter Smithers, the easy-to-back 7/1 chance (3s early) soon established a healthy advantage and despite jumping right, he had matters under control from early in the straight.

Owned and bred by Pat McCarthy, the Jarlath Fahey-trained bay kept up the gallop all the way to the line, with The Lovely Man (11/8 favourite) never landing a blow in second.

“We tried to settle him the second day (over hurdles) and I don’t think he liked it. He likes to do his own thing out in front and tip away,” Fahey explained.

“We might put him back on the level, he could go for a premier handicap.”

Defied top-weight

Downtown Queen also obliged at the odds of 7/1, as she defied top-weight in the Wexford Racecourse Racing Club Handicap Chase over two miles, three and a half furlongs.

Second over the course and distance on her previous start, the Henry de Bromhead-trained six-year-old, who is owned by the John Battersby Racing Syndicate, was in front from the third under Conor McNamara.

Pushed along from two out and not fluent at the last, she kept on well when ridden in the closing stages, coming home two-lengths clear of Pepperocco.

“Conor gave her a super ride and she jumped brilliantly. We will enjoy today and see what’s coming up for her. She could possibly go to Listowel,” de Bromhead remarked.