Local win for Mayo owner at Ballinrobe Racecourse

Monday, May 26, was the biggest evening of racing of the season at Ballinrobe Races. With the Mayo National the feature race, a prize pot of €100,000 was up for grabs as the Gordon Elliott trained Western Fold secured first place.

In the previous race which went to post at 6pm, first place went the way of the Mayo owned Westport Cove. Owner Cathal Hughes saw his horse lead from the off as the Willie Mullins trained horse secured glory in the McHale Tiger Roll Beginners Chase. 

The 6/5 favourite led all the way under a cool and confident ride from champion jockey, Paul Townend, who was in the green and red colours representing the Hughes family who are well known in the Mayo area as the family operate the very successful Portwest business.

Monday’s win was the first for Westport Cove over fences as he had a few placed efforts in recent times. Winning on his debut, he went to the very top in horseracing with a run at the Cheltenham Festival, a good experience for sure but it failed to warrant glory. Westport Cove now has had 16 runs with three victories to his name.

There was a large turnout at the Mayo Racecourse even though the weather wasn’t exactly pleasant. The popular track welcomed racegoers on Monday and Tuesday evenings with high quality National Hunt racing going down a treat. The next race meeting will be Monday, June 23, which is the Lodge At Ashford Castle Ladies Day, with the racing getting underway at 5.10pm.

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