Slevin steals the show at Thurles on Chapel Garden.

Thurles Racecourse staged the last national hunt race meeting prior to Christmas today with an interesting card offered to race goers.

In many respects it was a wonderful early Christmas present for young Wexford man JJ Slevin as the 21 year old stole the show as he scored the first track winner of his career when taking the bumper on Chapel Garden at 14/1.

Getting the leg up on the 4 year old Heron Island gelding from Inistioge, Co Kilkenny based trainer John Clifford, Slevin successful on 13 occasions between the flags to date managed to make a stunning debut for Co Wexford owner breeder James Byrne.

The son of Heron Island was the only horse without previous racing experience but this didn’t stop Slevin from upsetting better fancied opponents to land the spoils.

Slevin is a son of Shay and Elizabeth Slevin from Kiltrea Enniscorthy Co Wexford. He splits his time between his media studies in Dublin and riding out at home where Shay has a mixture of track and point to point horses.

With his brother Mark they share the riding duties at the yard depending on the requirements of the day, but JJ has struck up a winning relationship with Clifford in the point to point world with this now being transferred to the track.

Slevin a first cousin of Irish Champion Flat jockey, Joseph O’Brien will now be hoping to build on this initial track winner. It might be worth your while to check out a piece published here the 23/10/13 under the title “Slevins expertise shines through” in inside the rails.

It was a good enough day for Wexford based performers as Gordon Doyle, saddled his second track winner, when Foritsa added to his win at Wexford when taking the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Steelpechase.

Doyle based just outside of New Ross, Co Wexford has a small team of horses that he is now both training and placing them expertly.

Ridden by Adam O’Neill the 9 year old Golden Tornado gelding won this 2 mile 2 furlong contest easily at 4/1. Owned by New Ross man Harry Williams this former winning point to pointer has really thrived on the new training regime instigated by Doyle that saw him give his trainer his first career track winner in November at Wexford. O’Neill is funnily enough another Wexford man who currently rides out for John Berry and Eoin Doyle.

Getting in on the “Wexfest” theme, Colm Murphy must have been thrilled to gain a winning bracket for The Cookie Jar. This 6 year old Alderbrook mare had some nice placed firm at Down Royal and Wexford on her last two runs and justified favouritism to win here under Jody McGarvey. This young Derry man continues to impress observers and if he continues to ride with success for these good yards his career can only take off.

Other winners on the card saw Robert Tyner and Philip Enright take the Molony Cup with Sterling Stuff, while Jim Dreaper and Dessie Hughes won a couple of hurdle races with Los Amigos and Thunder and Roses giving Keith Donoghue and Davy Russell a winner each.

No meeting currently staged in Ireland would be complete without a Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh winner and so it was here with their 5 year old Denham Red gelding Un De Sceaux taking the conditions hurdle at 16/1 on!

But in truth it was one mans day, well done to JJ Slevin on his track winner, hopefully it will be the first of many.