In-form Femme Magnifique garners Wexford success

Ridden by Danny Gilligan, she was helped by runner-up Ma Jacks Hill’s blunder at the second last, edging ahead at the final fence to score by three-quarters of a length.

Fri, 28 Aug, 2026 - 20:23

John Ryan

In Wexford, where racing was delayed significantly due to a thunderstorm and torrential rain, Femme Magnifique made it three wins from four outings since joining Harry Kelly when landing the featured Brendan Cullinore Electrical Rated Novice Chase.

Ridden by Danny Gilligan, she was helped by runner-up Ma Jacks Hill’s blunder at the second last, edging ahead at the final fence to score by three-quarters of a length.

Kelly, also on the mark with newcomer Hutton Star (Pa King) in the mares bumper at Down Royal, explained: “She’s a star mare in our yard and great for the syndicate. Danny said he was never really happy on her – I don’t think she handles this track as well as others. But she was grinding it out and got the job done again. We’d love to sneak a bit of black type with her at some stage.”

Out of luck on disappointing favourite Le Coq Hardi in the feature, Darragh O’Keeffe starred earlier when winning the divisions of the Treo Eile Handicap Hurdle on the Ken Budds-trained Boola Times and Sekakarma, a first winner in more than eight years for trainer Mark Roper.

Placed in each of his four previous starts over hurdles, but a 14-race maiden, Game Point, trained by Ray Cody, bolted up in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle, making all to score by 18 lengths in the hands of the trainer’s nephew Paddy.

"It’s the first time he’s put his head in front," said the trainer, who completed an across-the-card double with Teddy Jones (Josh Williamson) in Down Royal. “I told Paddy to pop him out and ride him like the best horse in the race and he enjoyed it. The long-term plan has been the ‘Lartigue’ in Listowel and that’s where he’ll head next.”

And Phillip Enright was in double form, producing Hilary McLoughlin’s Cool Summer with a perfectly timed challenge to land the Visitwexford.ie Handicap Hurdle before following up on board Aengus King’s course specialist Chosen Shant in the Dan & Breda Byrne Memorial Handicap Chase.

Meanwhile, in Down Royal, the Charles Byrnes-trained, Philip Byrnes-ridden Reverend Hubert, unplaced in the Galway Plate last time but backed into 9/4 favourite, successfully conceded weight to his five rivals in the Denny Hurdle, staying on dourly on the extended run-in to keep Samui at bay by three-quarters of a length.

Nicky Larson rewarded jockey Sean Flanagan’s flying visit to Down Royal (he later flew to Wexford to ride Farrokh) when following up his Ballinrobe success and confirming form with Nod Of Approval and No Bother Aoife in the Coca-Cola HBC Ireland 3-Y-0 Hurdle.

But the 8/13 favourite had to dig deep to score by a half-length. And Paul Nolan commented: “He was bought to be a three-year-old hurdler, so it’s great that he’s won two. It probably didn’t suit him making the running, but he toughed it out. He’s rated 66 on the flat, so we might revert back to that job."

Trainer Mags Mullins made it three winners from her last four runners when 95-rated Rare Times (J J Slevin) justified 6/5 favouritism in the Dale Farm Dromona Mares Maiden Hurdle, asserting before the second last before beating Jo’s Secret by two and a quarter lengths.

“She had loads of experience and likes that quick ground,” said Slevin. “Danny fancied her out of the way and she did it well. I’d say she’ll jump a fence next summer.”