Mr Picotee and Andrew Lynch (left) jump the last alongside faller Magna Cartor© Photo Healy Racing
Andrew Lynch has returned to full fitness in recent times and Ireland’s one-time busiest jump jockey steered his fourth winner of the new season when completing a double at Wexford today, on the Vincent Halley trained Mr Picotee in the Slaney Handicap Hurdle.
Lynch, who missed most of last season through injury, was Ireland’s most in-demand rider in each of the previous three seasons, with well over 500 rides each term. He has returned to his busiest in recent weeks and arrived to Wexford today having been at Limerick, Punchestown and Hexham in the past three days.
Today Lynch produced Mr Picotee with a well timed challenge to win although the pair had their task simplified by the final flight fall of under pressure narrow leader Magna Cartor At the line, Mr Picotee held a length and a quarter lead over Magnetic Force
Trainer Halley, registering his third winner of the month, later stated “he did it well in the end but after the horse fell, Andrew said he was just idling away and he probably got to the front too soon.
“Andrew thought he had the faller (Magna Cartor) covered and e was always travelling well on that ground, and I'd say the drying helped a lot too. We'll pick out another hurdle for him, and hopefully he will keep going in the right direction
“He is a big horse, and he will probably like a flat or galloping track even more so. He is owned by Tom Fleming who is from Dungarvan originally but lives in Dublin.
“My horses are in great form and fair play to all the lads working hard in the yard. Head lad Nicky Kiely has done great work with the horses, it's a team effort in fairness."
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Donal Murphy
