Ridgeway wins Battle despite late scare for supporters The Martin Hassett trained Battle Of Ridgeway just held on under Liam McKenna to land the Dan & Breda Byrne Memorial Handicap Chase at Wexford. Sent off a well backed 5/1 chance, the gelding was held up in mid division as topweight Newtown Rambler made the running. Making headway to go third over three-furlongs out, Battle Of Ridgeway soon challenged the Darragh O'Keeffe partnered leader. With the final two fences in the straight omitted, Battle Of Ridgeway came through to take over passing what should have been the final obstacle. With the race in safe keeping, McKenna eased his mount for a few strides close home, allowing the fast finishing The Striker Dylan to close the gap. However, having recognised his error, McKenna got his mount going again to prevail by a short head after a photo finish. Martin Hassett said: "That was good, I thought we were just after getting nabbed like at Punchestown. He is a grand horse and if I had known about the fences coming out earlier I probably would have loaded him up and went home. He is dynamite to jump, jumping is his game. "I sold him to the boys a few years ago and he is after winning over hurdles and fences. We can go back over hurdles with him or keep him over fences. "We gave him a little break after Punchestown. He was probably a bit unfit at Galway and probably needed the run, but it set him up for today. It's all roads to Listowel now. He has options there and Liam doesn't want us to run him on the last day because I think he is suspended for that! "We've always liked him, he is a fine big horse, a fine big chaser. He has plenty of ability." Additional reporting by Donal Murphy.
