THE LONG, hot summer comes to an end at Bettyville on Friday next with the last evening meeting of the 2010 horse racing season. With a seven-race card down for decision, the all-flat card could catch many out with an early start time of 4.25 p.m. Preliminary racing lists in some national racing journals shows racing opening at the Wexford town track with a two-year-old maiden over one mile and one hundred yards.

This could well be the first two-year-old race at the track, as I cannot ever remember a similar-type race down for decision at Bettyville.

Two-year-old races are always ultra-competitive and it is very important that the track has broadened its range to include this contest. Well, hopefully it has!

The remaining six contests will see the Rocklands Service Station Handicap over two miles in addition to two other handicaps, a conditions race, a maiden and a mares' bumper.

It is always a pity to see the end of summer so get to Bettyville for the last of the summer wine this Friday, but get there earlier as it's a 4.25 p.m. start!

O'BRIEN THE MAGICIAN

Aidan O'Brien must rank as one of the best magicians in racing following the victory of 'Rip Van Winkle' in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York last week.

This horse, a four-year-old son of 'Galileo', was pitted against 'Sea The Stars' time after time last year, never, ever getting the better of him but still ending up the year with a couple of notable Group 1 mile wins, including the Sussex Stakes.

Having had a difficult time with a recurring hoof problem, O'Brien pitched him in against a quality international field including 'Byword' and 'Twice Over'.

With only two races this year and no victory since Ascot in September of last year, the horse was still fancied to win, and win he did over the one mile, two and a half furlong trip.

With this Group 1 success under his belt I wouldn't be surprised to see the Ballydoyle maestro try 'Rip Van Winkle' over a longer distance either in Europe or in America.

The magician's spell didn't quite work for 'Starspangledbanner' in the five-furlong Nunthorpe Stakes at the same meeting, with the four-year-old son of 'Choisir', having missed the break, just failing to haul in the shock 100/1 winner, 'Soul Power'.

It was still a good effort, but the magic just couldn't quite pull it off.

The future for this awesome sprinter remains in some doubt as a trip to the Breeders Cup in Churchill Downs could be a possibility, but don't be surprised if a tilt at the Breeders Cup Mile race is on the agenda.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Colin Bowe continues to make a great start to his fledgling career as a trainer, and the young Kiltealy-based man saddled another winner, this time at the Tramore Festival on the final day, August 15.

Ridden by Barry O'Neill, the four-year-old 'Overbury' filly, 'Misspublican', owned by Bernard and Owen Cloney, got to the front a furlong out and stayed on to win at 14/1 to make a winning debut.

With all roads leading to another festival meeting, this time down in Killarney, Liz Doyle joined forces with this season's leading amateur, Mikey Fogarty, to land the bumper on the 18th with the French-bred 'Anoosou' at 12/1.

This six-year-old 'Cyborg' gelding, owned by Clonroche man Paddy Monahan, obviously found the track to his liking here as, having fallen at Wexford previously and with no hurdles to jump, he won this stylishly. With connections describing the horse as 'an enigma and a bit temperamental', it is obvious that the horse has ability as well.

With Aidan O'Brien performing conjuring tricks at York, this still didn't stop the yard from sending out a couple of nice local winners.

Taking the Listed Ruby Stakes at Killarney with the three-year-old 'Steinbeck', a son of 'Footstepsinthesand', the 5/4 favourite won this snugly in the hands of Seamus Heffernan.

The yard also struck with 'Last of the mohicans', a son of 'Galileo', on the all-weather track at Dundalk at 12/1 with Shaun Leavy in the saddle.

DIARY DATES

Racing: August 25, Bellewstown (e); August 26, Bellewstown (e), Tipperary (e); August 27, Down Royal (e), Wexford (e); August 28, Galway (e); August 29, Curragh, Galway; August 30, Downpatrick, Galway (e).

- with DICK WHITE