Barry Geraghty moved onto the 65 winner mark for the season when partnering a double at Wexford yesterday aboard Creux Noir and Jolly Side.
Creux Noir recorded a comfortable success in the opening Rosslare Maiden Hurdle, leading two out for a facile six length success over Juan Les Pins. Mark Weld, son of winning trainer Dermot, said afterwards: 'He deserved that after losing out narrowly a few times at Naas, and will soon revert to the Flat.'
Geraghty is now 11 clear of Conor O'Dwyer in the National Hunt jockeys championship, and got the better of his nearest rival in an exciting finish to the Joseph Scallon Memorial Chase. The Tony Mullins-trained Jolly Side made virtually all the running at a strong pace but was joined by Royal Marine at the last. Jolly Side dug deep on the run-in under a strong drive from Geraghty to prevail by two lengths.
'He is an unreal jumper, and is definitely better on good ground,' said Mullins, who hopes the seven-year-old will develop into a contender for the Galway Plate. His immediate target will be a two mile novice chase at the Punchestown Festival.
American owner Tom Carroll made the trip from Virginia worthwhile when Sew It Seems carried his white and orange colours to success in the Gulland Beginners Chase. Jason Titley's mount went clear after two out but just held on by a neck as Gill's Honey finished with a flourish.
