Westy Fox and Keith Donoghue© Photo Healy Racing
A point-to-point winner and back in trip for his second handicap start Westy Fox landed a gamble in the penultimate event at Fairyhouse today.
Supported into 11/4 favouritism from 4/1 ‘on the show,’ and much bigger earlier, the Westerner gelding was waited with towards the back of the field by Keith Donoghue in this Fairyhouse Committee Handicap Hurdle (division one).
Jim Dreaper ’s charge stylishly moved his way through the field from before the straight but eventual third Wake The Giant was still moving well at that juncture.
Ultimately it was the rallying Get Home that gave Westy Fox most to do but the Karl Davis owned seven-year-old held on by half a length.
Dreaper’s son Tom said in the aftermath: “He's a grand horse and he loves heavy ground.
“He won around Farmaclaffley last year, which is the stiffest point-to-point track in the country, on unraceable ground.
“He has been waiting on that ground. The last day was maybe a little bit too far, over three miles around here.
“I think he was in the right race on the right day and got a good ride. It's job done and he'll try and win another one of these.
“Like all of ours he's only playing around over hurdles. He could go over a fence sooner rather than later.”
Another 'Fox,' Ballea, won race two on the programme.
The Stewards interviewed K.M. Donoghue, rider of Westy Fox, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were satisfied that K. M. Donoghue was in breach of Regulation 10.3.(g), excessive frequency. Having considered K. M. Donoghue's record in this regard the Stewards cautioned him on this occasion.
(GC & EM)
