AS ever the overlap between racing and GAA followers remains strong, as evidenced by the healthy attendance at the race day in support of Wexford GAA.

The Friday night of what would turn out to be a fruitful weekend for John McConnell, began with an across-the-card/cross-codes double.

That Bettyville/Bellewstown feat for McConnell, was matched by Gavin Cromwell, but it was the former’s Kinbara (strongly-backed 13/8 favourite) that provided one of the evening’s talking points given the ease of his success under Ben Harvey in the Pat Farrell Memorial 5th Maiden Hurdle.

Supplementing previous point-to-point and bumper gains, the Caroline Ahearn-owned Mahler gelding slammed another son of the Beeches Stud-stallion, Glendars Mahler, by 18 lengths.

He’d asserted from before two out and Misty’s Gift wasn’t making any impression on him when falling at the last.

Mythical Phoenix won over five furlongs at Bellewstown for McConnell, and after the three-mile victory for Kinbara, Harvey commented: “He’s a horse we’ve always liked and was impressive when he won his bumper at Killarney.

“We are hopeful that he will shape up into a graded horse in time. He is not one that blows us away at home but he always saves a little bit for himself and that’s what you want with these three milers.”

In foal

While Kinbara is only starting out, the in-foal Clairmc’s racing days are numbered. She’s certainly finishing with a flourish making it two-in-a-row around Wexford in the Neville Hotels Handicap Chase.

Hot-on-the-heels of the win for her Gavin Cromwell stable companion Final Orders at Bellewstown, Clairmc (5/2 favourite) led close home for owner Peter McCarrick and jockey Keith Donoghue to defeat Berliet Express by a neck.

“She had been disappointing, and we didn’t think it would take her as long to win, but now she is after winning two in-a-row. She is in-foal and I’m not sure how long she has left,” remarked Donoghue on a daughter of Walk In The Park that should be a nice addition to the breeding paddocks.

Mahler and Friends

There was further success for Mahler in the concluding Mercedes-Benz Mares INH Flat Race, with Friends justifying 4/6 favouritism on debut.

Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick, the Lions Mouth Racing Club-owned bay was never far from the pace.

Pushed along to challenge over a furlong from home, she soon got to the front and was nudged out in the closing stages to win by a length and three-quarters.

“She will stay going for the summer as I don’t think she is a winter mare. I don’t think heavy ground would suit her. She is not over big, but has an engine,” the winning rider divulged.

SUCCESSFUL at the highest level in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse in 2020, Ballyadam recorded his first win since in the MSK Silversands Beginners Chase.

Expected to go a place better than he did on his racecourse debut over fences, the Henry de Bromhead-trained eight-year-old was sent off the even-money favourite.

In a three-way tussle away from the second last, he edged to the front on the run-in under Rachael Blackmore, staying on best to oblige by a length and a half.

The front-running Hubrisko finished second, while Joyeux Machin was third, losing his chance when blundering at the last.

“It’s great to see him get his head in front again. We were hoping that he’d be able to do something like that,” Blackmore said of the Cheveley Park Stud-owned bay.

“He was a little bit in my hands but he battled really well from the last.”

Cody repeats

Blackmore guided the Ray Cody-trained Watch The Weather to victory at Tipperary the previous evening, and the Co Kilkenny handler was again on the mark with Fancy A Cosmo (15/2) in the opening Shamrock Enterprises Maiden Hurdle.

Placed six times from his 11 previous starts over flights, the bay gelding certainly wasn’t winning out of turn in the colours of the Pints And Bubbles Syndicate.

Never far from the pace under Donagh Meyler, he was pushed along to lead approaching the straight and soon went clear, extending his advantage on the run-in and coming home 14-lengths to the good.

“It looked a very competitive race on paper but I definitely thought that he would be there or thereabouts because he was in brilliant form at home,” Cody stated.

“We will find something in Galway for him now as the lads are from there.”

TAKE All made every post a winning one under Jody McGarvey, as he landed the feature Molloy Metals Wexford GAA Raceday Handicap Chase.

Previously trained by Seamus Fahey and last successful back in October 2021, the Golden Lariat eight-year-old made his debut for John ‘Shark’ Hanlon at Leopardstown in February.

Sent off a 17/2 chance here, he was strongly pressed on the approach to two out. Ridden away from the last, he battled on gamely to fend off the effort of Snugsborough Hall by half-a-length.

“He is owned by James Cleary, who bred him as well and it means an awful lot to him. I haven’t seen a man to enjoy a race as much as he did for a long time,” Hanlon revealed.

“He done a bit of work the other morning and I rang James last night and told him it was the best bit of work that he has done since I got him. He will probably go for a break now.”

Take All was recording his second win at Bettyville, as was the Philip Rothwell-trained Ricky Langford (8/1), who claimed the Tote Handicap Hurdle.

Patient ride

Given a patient ride by Paddy O’Hanlon, he was ridden to lead before the last and kept on well in the closing stages to beat Crafty Gael by two and a quarter lengths.

“He is owned by the Kings Horses Syndicate, a group of friends I went to school with,” Rothwell explained.

“He has won five for us now and is ultimately for sale. There is a ladies’ race in Cartmel in a few weeks’ time and we might go there with him.”