There was an amazing poignant outcome to the opening race at Wexford today as Rips Dream (7/1) took the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle by two and a quarter lengths with Katie O’Farrell in the saddle.

A four year old by Rip Van Winkle out of Billy’s Dream, Rips Dream was bred by the late Bill Foley and his late wife, Penny, Ballyclemock, Newbawn, and was winning his first race under the Foley Partnership ownership. The Foleys had a long and successful association with horse racing and enjoyed nothing more than a win at their local track in the company of friends.

Trainer Pat Flynn said: “He is a lovely horse and we always thought on the Flat his bravery wasn’t the best, but we think hurdles will toughen him up. We were hoping for the best today as he had been jumping well at home and he is a lovely big horse.

“It is sad his owner Bill Foley passed away earlier in the year; he was an absolute gentleman and he would have been thrilled. His niece Annette O’Connor and nephew are carrying on with the horse now so it’s great.”

It was a great day for Graiguenamanagh trainer Eamonn ‘Dusty’ Sheehy who recorded a double at Wexford while his son, Michael, enjoyed his first racecourse success on the flat card at Navan today.

Captain Cobajay (16/1) was a chance mount for Simon Torrens in the handicap chase and was a confident winner, while Sheehy’s double came in the final race – the Dan Byrne Memorial Handicap Chase – withRudy Catrail (8/1) taking the easy route by an impressive 17 lengths and giving Shane Fenelon, (21), from Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow, his first racecourse success.

Dusty Sheehy said: “It was great to see Michael having his first winner; he is 16, is light and I’d say he’ll go well at it. He is apprenticed to Joseph O’Brien at Carrick-on-Suir. It’s been a nice day for Michael and myself and it’s nice to get back into the winner’s enclosure and especially with a double. Getting horses is everything and I’ve only a handful of horses but have a couple of nice young horses to run. Shane has ridden two point to point winners, his first on this horse.”

Simon Torrens from Tyrone also enjoyed his first racecourse double. He won on Captain Cobajay for Sheehy, which was a spare ride as Adam Short injured his shoulder in a fall, but earlier he was aboard Shes Flat Tothemat, (11/1) for Kanturk-based trainer  Michael Winters in the Garry Flood Landscaping Handicap Hurdle who scored by one and a half lengths from Lady of the Sea, trained by Paul Nolan for his neighbour, Jim Mernagh, at Davidstown, Enniscorthy.

Allduckandnodinner (5/1) won the handicap hurdle by half-a-length for Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell, depriving a local winner in the runner-up, Lilly Geal, trained at Ballycarney by Yvonne Latta and ridden by Camolin rider James O’Sullivan.

Put The Kettle On (evens fav.) gave a fine front running performance to score for the fourth successive time by two and a half lengths in the Audrey McGrath Memorial Chase for Henry de Bromhead and Hugh Morgan with Victoria Bay, trained at Kiltealy by Colin Bowe for Rich and Nora Furlong, Adamstown, chasing her home.

Competitive racing was the order of the day in front of the large crowd and the track was in excellent shape. The Tote aggregate was  €53,630 (7 races) compared with €50,638 (8 races) last year. Next race meetings at Bettyville Park will be on the October Bank Holiday weekend, Sunday and Monday, 25th and 26th, repectively.