18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Clarke collects back at Wexford

Sat 13th Jul 2024, 13:53

Johnny Clarke and Darragh O Keeffe Johnny Clarke and Darragh O Keeffe
© Photo Healy Racing

Johnny Clarke gained compensation for a narrow defeat on his last visit to Wexford when claiming the first division of the Tote Handicap Hurdle this afternoon.

Darragh O'Keeffe produced the 9/2 shot to tackle front-runner Tingarran Express two from home and he edged ahead going to the last.

The Liam Burke-trained gelding asserted on the run-in and then held the late charge of 33/1 shot Ballycommon Chapel to record a half-length success.

Johnny Clarke had run well over course and distance in late May when failing by a neck to peg back Future Proof.

O'Keeffe said afterwards:- "It's great to get a winner on the board for Liam. He tries very hard and has been good to me, so it's great.

“This horse had a good run the last day and I thought coming away from it that I was unlucky. It was his first run in a handicap and he just lacked that bit of experience.

“He was sharper for it and he worked the other morning and was in good nick, so we were hopeful of a good run today.

"He is a fine big horse and had plenty of time off so it is a good training performance by Liam to get him back to the track.

“It great to get a win out of him for the owners and hopefully he'll be able to build on today and there might be another day in him."

(Quotes by Donal Murphy)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.