Wexford's opening race of 2022, the Wexford Mares Maiden Hurdle, was won by the Con O'Keeffe trained, owned and bred Kilbarry Chloe which gained a deserved first success, under jockey Mike O'Connor.

The daughter of Mahler was placed in four of five bumpers runs and on jumps debut today, made novicey jumping errors but still proved a neck too strong for runner-up Hannah Wells

Delighted O'Keeffe later said “when you breed them it makes it all the more special and she had been knocking on the door.

“She is a real genuine mare and and while we thought she would have been running in January, we have been waiting for the ground all year. Hopefully we’ll get more ground like that before the season finishes.

“She needs a trip, soft ground and a fence. She’ll go chasing next season.”

Quotes from Alan Magee