KIERAN Callaghan rounded off a fruitful couple of weeks by claiming the Boylesports Novice Hurdle aboard Pink In The Park, the feature at Wexford on Wednesday.

Partnering his seventh winner in less than a month and his third in as many days, the talented Co Carlow pilot settled the Willie Mullins-trained victor in second.

Returned at 2/5 favourite (6/4 in early shows), the six-year-old improved to the front on the approach to the straight and soon had all her rivals off the bridle, ultimately coming home a length and a quarter to the good.

Barry Lydon filled the runner-up spot and while no match for the Roaringwater Syndicate-owned victor, he stuck to his task well, drawing 17 lengths clear of the third.

“It was very straightforward, she is a very classy mare and we thought she would do that coming here today,” Callaghan divulged.

“I’m finished now for the break and hopefully I’ll be able to pick up where I left off when we come back.”

Mike O’Connor will undoubtedly be hoping for the same, after he guided Bowmore to victory in the second division of the Wexford Racecourse Ladies Day August 13th Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.

Third win

Recording his third win in the space of four days, O’Connor always looked comfortable aboard this well-supported (5/6 favourite from 6/4 early) Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding.

Settled behind the leaders, jumping well throughout, the Alan Halsall-owned bay led from two out and soon stretched clear, with seven lengths the margin of victory.

“I think that’s my 50th winner now so my claim is down to 3lb,” the winning rider revealed.

“He was very good today and was big and bold over the last two, he had plenty left in the tank.

“I’ve been having a brilliant time lately and kind of wish the break wasn’t so close.”

There was a dramatic conclusion to the first division of this extended two-mile contest, with The Last Mardi crashing out at the penultimate flight.

Sent off the well-backed favourite at 1/4 (4/7 in early shows), the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding was still travelling well in front when coming to grief.

His exit left Starman (3/1) and Fox Leicester in a share of the lead, with the former getting to the front before the final obstacle, going on to score easily by four and three-parts of a length.

“It’s a great result for his owner Michael Ronayne. He is an elderly man and is very sick at the moment. This will give him a real lift,” winning trainer Declan Queally junior reported.

Kavanagh hails the local cheers

FROM minutes away in Ardcavan, Sarah Kavanagh enjoyed a special success aboard Feet Of A Dancer in the Racing Again July 7th Ladies Handicap Hurdle.

Recording her first winner at her home track and her fourth in total, Kavanagh received a warm reception upon returning to the parade ring.

Successful at Bettyville on her most recent start, the Paul Nolan-trained 13/2 chance was the only four-year-old in the line-up.

Patient ride

Given a patient ride, she made progress from three out and improved to challenge on the inner approaching the next.

In front from the last, the Phil Byrne-owned bay was ridden and kept on well in the closing stages, coming home four-lengths to the good.

“That was a super ride from Sarah. I said sit on her coming down the hill and don’t let the leaders get too far away. She got a lovely run up the inner and I thought she was super,” Nolan remarked.

“I’m thinking something like getting in off bottom weight in the Lartigue at Listowel. Maybe she is not that standard, but she is a progressive little one and wears her heart on her sleeve.”

Ready win

Mousey Brown was another to follow-up on a recent course success, as she readily accounted for her 12 rivals in the visitwexford.ie Mares Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.

The winner of a bumper over the course and distance last month, the Dermot McLoughlin-trained six-year-old carries the colours of Dublin based businessman Alan Smith.

Taking closer order with a circuit to race, she hit the front before two out and kept on well from there to prevail by three and a quarter-lengths under Michael Molloy.

It was a poignant third career success for the winning rider, whose father Mick passed away last month.

“She is settling well now and that was the key to her as she is a big strong mare,” McLoughlin stated. “There is a novice race in Galway that could be an option for her.”

ON what was his first ride for Ross O’Sullivan, Liam McKenna guided Gotthenod to victory in the Country Fest Wexford August 13th Handicap Hurdle. Beaten by just half-a-length over the course and distance last month, the Tommy Ward-owned chesnut was sent off a 6/1 chance.

Positioned in the centre of the track, racing mainly in fourth, the nine-year-old made smooth progress from three out and led before the next.

Soon ridden, she stretched clear on the run-in, comfortably seeing off Florey Spud (9/2 favourite) by three and a half lengths.

“I spoke to Ross and to Conor Orr beforehand and they filled me with confidence,” McKenna revealed.

“I never moved on her until we turned in and when I grabbed a hold of her, she picked up and went away.”

Another chesnut claimed the concluding Enniscorthy Castle (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race, with Walmix (16/1) surging late to deny front-running newcomer Sadies Diamond.

An encouraging fourth on debut at Tramore, the Tony Mullins-trained victor was settled in mid-division on the outer by Conor Clarke, taking closer order on the approach to the straight.

Soon ridden in second, he got to the front inside the final 50 yards, going on to prevail by three-parts of a length in the colours of the Crampton-Cloudsdale Syndicate.

“He is an excitable horse. He got a lovely introduction at Tramore and showed the improvement today by reversing the form with two of them from there,” Mullins reported.

“He is owned by some of the people who had Princess Zoe, the divided side!”