Flat champ prevails on the beach

Action returned to the beach and it was a battle of the champion jockeys across both codes as Ruby Walsh aboard Paris Sue rode out a driving finish with eventual winner Lilly Be and Declan McDonogh.

The pair were always prominent but McDonogh’s mount stayed on best of all to deny Walsh who was eventually denied second place by the staying on Dafaroun. Indeed McDonogh was scoring on the beach for the third successive year.

McDonogh went on to complete a double on the gallant twelve-year-old Miracle Ridge who is arguably one of the jockeys favourite horses and that affection was shown by the Meath man as the son of Indian Ridge received a worthy pat down the neck crossing the line three lengths in front of Hi Spec.

Aido McGuiness trained the veteran performer who was marking his 120th career start with his 16th win.

Following twenty six starts the Willie Martin owned and trained Gist was enjoying her day at the beach as she managed to get her head in front for the first time in her consistent career.

The filly by Namid was always prominent under Niall McCullagh and afterwards an emotional winning trainer said: 'She is trained on the beach in Wexford and she obviously like the conditions. She has been very consistent and ran a good race when sixth in a Listed race at Tipperary last week. She is getting stronger now and it is just great to win with her.'

Another to love the beach is the Robbie Osborne trained Moon At Midnight who landed the Castlemartin Park Claiming Race under Paul Carberry.

The seven-year-old was a course and distance winner back in 2004 before coming back to be only beaten a shorthead a year later and running with credit again last year. Carberry always oozed confidence on the Night Shift gelding before going on in the final furlong before being eased down to justify 11/8 favouritism.

Robbie Osborne said afterwards: 'He has been ultra consistent around here and he ran a cracker last week to win at the north but we will see what the handicapper does before we decide what we do next.'

The sole English runner at the meeting was the Dandy Nicholls trained Quai Du Roi and that five-year-old by Desert King who went off 5/1 joint second favourite, made the trip a worthwhile one as he bolted up by three and a half lengths.

Champion Point-To-Point rider Derek O Connor was doing the steering and he always had his mount at the head of affairs before going clear just over a furlong from home.

In the afternoon’s closing race the father and daughter team of Ted and Katie Walsh teamed up to score with Collingwood who made all the running to hold the late surge of Show Blessed and win for a second time over course and distance.