Local PAUL NOLAN’s Wexford winner 

The first race meeting of the season at Bettyville Park survived an early morning inspection on Friday and went ahead in heavy ground conditions and a bitterly cold day coloured by a few light snow showers on St Patrick’s Day.

Wexford trained runners filled the first two places in the Neville Hotels Novice Handicap Hurdle with Bryan Cooper proving strongest in a close finish to take the prize with the Paul Nolan trained Quamino, (14/1), by half a length.

The German-bred got the better of Soul Season, a course specialist who won two of his last three starts over the Bettyville turf, for Camolin trainer Tommy James and his local jockey, James O’Sullivan.

Paul Nolan, who saddled runner-up Discorama at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday, was absent, but jockey Cooper commented afterwards; “He was running in very good maiden hurdles and he did it well today.”

Crosshue Boy, (6/4 fav.) won the Barry Ennis Memorical Novice Chase for Ballindaggin trainer, Sean Doyle, with five pounds claimer and amateur rider Harley Dunne in the saddle. The eight year old had two and three-quarter lengths to the good on the line. “He also won this day last year,” said the winning jockey afterwards.

Two lucky punters shared the jackpot pool of €5,000 and left the track richer by €1,750 each.

The next fixture is the first evening meeting of 2018 and it is scheduled for Friday, April 6^th.