Alix Balfe rides first winner at Cork Twenty year old Alix Balfe partnered his first winner today, steering Macinamillion (12/1) to land Cork's Leisure Domes Ltd Handicap Hurdle for his employer trainer Gavin Cromwell. Both Balfe and Macinamillion were each 14-race maidens coming into today's race and having raced mid-field, the winners improved to lead approaching the final flight and battled well to beat Aboy Joey by a half-length. Macinamillion carries the colours of the Tralee-based Oak Lodge Farm Ltd syndicate while trainer Cromwell was at Fairyhouse where, some twenty minutes later, he won a Grade 2 hurdle with Bottler'secret. At Cork delighted Balfe reported “he is a little trier of a horse, runs free but it was grand to get him switched off today and he got the business done. "I'm with Gavin six days a week and with Pat Downey in the evenings so thanks to Gavin and Ger (Teahon, part owner) for giving me the ride today - I'm grateful for the opportunities. “I'm 20, from Kells and my grandfather rode a few point-to-pointers and I got into racing that way, so all credit to Dad and my grandad. I had a couple of spins in point-to-points on our own horse who unfortunately broke down and turned conditional then. “I'm getting going and tipping along nicely now, credit to Keith Donoghue (fellow Cromwell-based jockey) too and to my agent Gary Cribbin.”
