KATE KELLY. Pic; WexfordToday.com

The prestigeous Punchestown Kidney Research Donation Charity Race brought an end to five days of the famous Punchestown Festival and there was an amazing Wexford presence with four of the 25 in the field and they filled the first three places home.
The 30th running of the race on the flat over one circuit of Punchestown was won in impressive style by Kate Kelly from Blackwater on Manomine, (33/1), who had to raise €1,000 to participate in the contest.

Kate, who is also handy on the camogie field with Blackwater GAA Club, was given a rousing reception by family and friends as she returned to the winners’ enclosure, and proudest of all were her parents, Peter and Alice Kelly.
Formerly with the Nole Meade Stables in Meath, Kate is now riding out with Denis Murphy at Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, and she was absolutely thrilled by her success at long odds.
Runner-up was Flat To The Max, (3/1 fav) with former inter-county footballer with Wexford and St. Anne’s GAA Club, Redmond Barry in the saddle. He and Kate Kelly fought out the finish over the closing three furlongs in the straight, but Kate prevailed by one and a half lengths. Barry is a regular competitor in this high profile annual fundraiser.

REDMOND BARRY Pic: WexfordToday.com

Third was Emma Walsh from Killurin on the Joseph O’Brien trained Thermistocles, (11/2), and further down the field in a respectable 8th place was Stephen O’Connor, son of Billy, the huntsman of the Ballinagore Harriers, on Mad Jack Mytton, (10/1), owned and trained by Ballindaggin owner and trainer Sean Doyle.Although it is classified as “a charity fun” race all riders have to be licensed by the Turf Club. The wining owner, trainer and jockey received a trophy, while each rider received a momento of no intrinsic value.

The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund in 2019 and 2020 will donate €100,000 towards the building of a new Self Care Haemo Dialysis Unit at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin.
Today’s Charity Race has raised €1.5 million for projects to help improve the health and lifestyle of patients with kidney disease.