Ballinard Billy gifted success at last© Photo Healy Racing
Ballinard Billy was gifted victory in the opening beginners chase at Wexford after incredible last fence drama.
25/1 Tulpar had hit the front before the final fence in the 2m3f contest, taking over from 6/4 favourite Illtakeitfromhere
The grey started to run around, however, approaching the road and was joined again by the market leader at the last. Both were to exit, however, as Tulpar unseated his rider and Illtakeitfromhere fell.
That left Ballinard Billy, who had made much of the running, to land the spoils under Johnny Burke. Dominetta Vitali who was in fourth, was another casualty at the last having been badly hampered and unseating.
The Aidan Fogarty-trained winner (3/1) was perhaps gaining due compensation for his Tipperary defeat last time when he had looked 'home and hosed' only to tie-up in the closing stages.
Donal Cullen owner of Ballinard Billy said afterwards: "He deserved to win as he has been second five times but we were lucky.
"The horses that unseated looked tired. I thought they went a fast pace. We were going to put him away for the winter but it is up to Aidan.
"He likes a cut in the ground and he won't run on heavy. He is a very good jumper. He is called after the townland of Ballinard, near the village of Cullen in Tipperary."
(Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)
