Waterford trainer Eddie Kearns saddled his first winner on the Flat when Pipes Of Peace recorded a shock victory under Steven Curtis in the featured Smirnoff Handicap at Wexford yesterday evening.
The three-year-old filly was sent to the front half a mile out by the former pony racing champion and, despite drifting left in the straight and carrying her head very high, kept on well to beat Shalford Song by two and a half lengths .
The 16 to 1 (paid £48.80 on the Tote) win of Bobstar Dancer just half an hour later in the Enniscorthy Handicap ensured the jackpot of £16,464 was not won, and it will be carried forward to the next meeting at Wexford on July 8th.
The seven-year-old son of Bob Back only joined Trim handler Ger Lyons five weeks ago, and came wide off the home bend to beat Blue Jumbo by six lengths. This race had to be started by flag after the portable stalls once again posed problems, with two of the gates failing to open. Amateur Gerry Kearns partnered his third winner when Rilmount made all to land the Bree Handicap Hurdle. The Irene Oakes-trained filly, closely related to useful jumpers All The Aces and New York Rainbow, benefited from the addition of blinkers when staying on strongly in the straight to beat Permit Me by 11 lengths.
Garrett Cotter was taken to nearby Wexford Hospital for xrays after Rosey Ellen took a crashing fall when in contention at the final flight in the Kilmore Maiden Hurdle, where the David Casey-ridden Dar Zoffer scored by one and a half lengths from Dip's Guest.
Local trainer Milton Bradley celebrated his first treble at Chepstow last night when Flying Pennant, Ellopassoff and Grace obliged at combined odds of 175-1.
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