A GOOD crowd came to Bettyville recently where they were treated to a very competitive national hunt card. With another meeting in Tipperary on offer on the evening and the Aga Khan Cup down for decision in the RDS at the Horse Show, the attendance held up well.

It was a real battle in the betting ring, however, with all favourites losing, leaving many punters more than a few euro lighter in their pockets or purses. With the ground changing from good to firm to good to yielding after the second race, many horses preferring a quicker surface may have been inconvenienced and could well explain the lack of winning favourites.

Once again we had the novelty of the best turned out award for the winning groom being presented by a man marking his birthday. Christopher Duffy was celebrating his 60th birthday and seemed to have enjoyed the experience.

This evening was notable for the fact that many trainers were absent, with some engaged at the Horse Show and others in foreign lands, leaving the way clear for a number of memorable first-time winners in the training ranks being recorded.

Racing opened with a victory for Edward O'Grady's Co. Tipperary yard, with 'Hazeymm' opening his account in the www.wexfordraces.ie Maiden Hurdle. Run over two miles, the sevenyear-old son of 'Marju' was sent off at 3/1 under Andrew McNamara. He came through well before the last to easily hold the favourite, 'Striking Force'. Racing in the colours of Michael Ryan from Al Eile Stud in Dungarvan, this horse was bought in Dubai and added to his two previous flat race wins.

With the winning trainer away in the South of France, stable spokesman, Danny Sheehan, stated: 'I have no idea where he goes from here other than to go away and win more'. This race saw local jockey Seán Flanagan sustain an injury when falling from the Liz Doyle-trained 'Anoosou', and Flanagan had to be stood down for the rest of the meeting.

Francis Flood has always tried to support racing at Wexford and, while he didn't make it to the track himself, he was ably represented by his son, Fran, who welcomed home their Coolcotts Handicap Hurdle winner, 'Didn't He Do Well', in the two-mile contest. Ridden by Mark Walsh, the four-yearold son of 'Old Vic' was towards the front nearly all the way to comfortably take this race for J.P. McManus.

Speaking afterwards in the winners' enclosure, Flood stated: 'that was a bit of a shock. He ran very bad the last day at Tipperary in a maiden but he did it well here. We will try to keep him to a similar grade, but he could keep improving as he is only a four-yearold'. This race seemed to have seen a bit of a gamble go astray with 'Giant Sequoia' in the blue and pink colours of Paddy Byrne making no impression under David Casey, having been backed in from 5/1 and higher to 3/1 favourite.

The J.P. McManus-sponsored Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle saw a career first for Cratloe, Co. Clare, based trainer, Declan McNamara, with 'Miss Mary Mac'. Training his first winner as a restricted trainer, the six-year-old 'Dushyantor' mare was winning her fourth national hunt race but the first for McNamara as she was previously trained by Lorna Casey.

Ridden by Adrian Heskin, the 6/1 chance stayed on well to shade the James Motherway-trained 'Walter Blue' on the line. Having her first run since March, McNamara indicated afterwards: 'she was working well at home and is for sale'. This was McNamara's first winner since obtaining his licence and, with four horses riding out, this is a new string to his bow in the racing game as he manufactures stabling and doors for stable yards as his main business.

Michael Hourigan was at the Horse Show in the RDS preparing 'Beef or Salmon' for his riding class, so he left it to Willie Neville to do the honours on 'Turf War', having taken the two-mile, one-furlong Ballyhack Beginners Chase. This French-bred son of 'Sleeping Car' was highly thought of over hurdles and got his act together here to shade the John Brennanowned 'Norther Bay' at 5/2.

Ridden patiently by Davy Russell, the horse seemed to benefit from the long run home after the second last as they had to bypass the last fence due to injury, and he just nailed 'Norther Bay' close to home. With Hourigan away, plans for the Michael O'Learyowned horse were unclear.

Another first-time winner was Timothy Cleary in the Whitford House Hotel Steeplechase. The seven-year-old son of 'Stowaway' comprehensively beat the evens favourite 'Fosters Cross' under an enterprising ride from Eddie Power. Owned by a partnership based in the Monks Pub in Thurles, this was the horse's fourth win. An obviously surprised trainer indicated afterwards: 'I'm a bit taken aback. I thought that we had it all to do but young Power seized the initiative and he took his opportunity'. The horse will most likely be seen next in Killarney but it will be interesting to see how the handicapper assess this performance.

It's a rare occurrence to see an Argentinian-bred horse running, let alone winning, in Wexford, but this was achieved with the victory of 'Pacific Ocean' in the three-mile, one-furlong Handicap Chase. Trained by Jimmy Mangan from Conna in Co. Cork and ridden by his son Paddy, the eleven-year-old son of 'Fitzcarraldo' led all the way and, making every effort to repel all challengers, he won by a very comfortable eight lengths.

The 9/1 winner might be seen next at Listowel and, continuing the international flavour of the victory, the horse is owned by Riikka Heikkola who is originally from Finland but now lives in Midleton, Co. Cork. This race was a little farcical in the end as the runners had to miss out five of the fences as the bright sunlight impacted on the safety of jumping, but a win is a win!

The final race went to the Camlough, Co. Armagh, trainer, Patrick Collins, who trained 'Tear Drops', a six-yearold 'Beneficial' mare, to win his first race as a restricted trainer for his neighbour, Killian McDonnell. Indications are that this former point-to-point winner will now go hurdling, having won here at 8/1 in the hands of Jason McKeown.

Racing returns to the track on August 27 where the battle with the bookies will be resumed.