Sean Flanagan supporters had plenty to cheer for at Bettyville Park today where he rode a double success on an eight-race card in conditions that improved throughout the afternoon.
The Palace East-born rider won both of his steeplechases by the minimum margin – a short-head and a photo-finish.
He scored on Commandant, (13/2), for Joseph O’Brien and the Gigginstown House Stud operation in the Freddy Doyle Memorial and Liz Doyle Racing Beginners’ Chase, beating another Joseph O’Brien challenger, Song Of The Sky, ridden by O’Brien’s cousin, JJ Slevin.
Half an hour later in the Eoin O’Gorman Solicitors Chase and Flanagan was a winner again aboard Double Windsor trained by David O’Brien, Pilton, Co. Kilkenny, for the Waterford city-based Fastey For The Fun Syndicate.
JJ Slevin did have compensation when winning the Coast Rosslare Strand handicap Hurdle (Division 1) on Colenso, for the Waterford Mircle Cure Syndicate and handler Pat Flavin.
Young Waterford trainer Declan Queally also achieved a double success with Cloudy Morning (3/1 fav.) in the Vinegar Hill Handicap Hurdle and Uisce Solas (3/1) in the bumper, which he also rode.
It was a good day’s racing with fast action and close finishes. The attendance grew throughout the afternoon and the track was in excellent condition. The next fixture at Bettyville Park is on Wednesday, May 22nd.

POINT-TO-POINT ACTION TODAY
A seven race point-to-point card took place on Saturday at Taylorstown, Co. Down where six Wexford jockeys were successful, including doubles for Barry O’Neill and Jamie Codd and Colin Bowe achieved a handlers’ double.
Cremant, owned by Paul McKeon, won the five year old geldings maiden by eight lengths while Brian Kenny’s Alice O’Byrne added a seven lengths victory in the mares maiden race for O’Neill and Bowe.
The maiden race for four year olds was run in two divisions and the winning prizemoney for both is on its way to Wexford.
Rob James won division one on Evander for Donnchadh Doyle and the Monbeg Syndicate by one and a half lengths and James Walsh was aboard Dancewiththewind in the same colours for Sean Doyle half an hour later. The winning verdict was nine lengths.
Jamie Codd teamed up with Jim Dreaper to win the geldings maiden race by two and ahalf lenghths on Amalfi Doug and recorded a double on the Gordon Elliott trained Krutzhlinn by three lengths in the Open Lightweight Race.
It was a good week on the track for Wexford amateurs. Luke Murphy, (22), from Gorey registered his first ever track success at Cork on Easter Monday aboard Casey Jem, (9/2), owned and bred by the Casey Enterprise Syndicate, also from Gorey, and trained at Bunclody by Anthony John Black at Bunclody in the Maiden Hunters’ Chase. They had nine lengths to spare.
Barry O’Neill won the bumper at Fairyhouse on Easter Monady on Golden Spread, (5/1) for Willie Mullins, and he was back again on Tuesday to score by three and a half lengths on Ucello Conti, (7/2 fav.) for Gordon Elliott.
Sunday’s point-to point is at Monksgrange, near Rathnure, run under the auspices of the Bree Hunt Club. Large entry and first race at 2 pm.