LADIES Day at Wexford was hampered by unfavourable weather, with ground conditions easing throughout the evening as a result of heavy showers.

While out of luck with his two runners, Tramore handler John Flavin still went home with a winner, after his partner Louisa Murphy scooped the best dressed prize.

Out on the track, it was Keith Donoghue who earned the plaudits, completing a quick-double courtesy of Dutch Schultz and Navigator Jack.

A respectable eighth of 20 in the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap at Galway, the Gavin Cromwell-trained son of Golden Horn deservedly made the breakthrough over flights in the opening Think Print and Design Maiden Hurdle.

Returned a 9/4 chance (from 5s early), the 115-rated bay, who is owned by the Over The Sticks Syndicate, was pushed along to challenge on the approach to two out and soon got to the front, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by two lengths.

Deserved

“He had been knocking on the door in a few maiden hurdles and had been disappointing in a few as well. He deserved to get his head in front,” Donoghue remarked.

The Eoin Griffin-trained Navigator Jack completed Donoghue’s brace in the Traynors Of Wexford Dulux Heritage Handicap Hurdle.

Beaten half a length on his penultimate outing, the Fame And Glory gelding was sent off the 10/3 favourite on what was his first start for owner Leonard Kinsella.

Coming from off the pace, he eased to the front from the second last and despite an awkward jump at the final flight, he readily stretched clear on the run-in and came home nine lengths to the good.

“The horse became available after his last run. Leonard stepped in and kept him in the yard, so I’m delighted,” Griffin explained.

“Bellewstown would be Leonard’s local track and he might go there next.”

THISISTHEWAY sent plenty of locals home happy, as she impressively dismissed her 10 rivals in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race.

The first foal out of three-time victor Little Mitch, who won twice at Bettyville, the Doyen debutante was sent off a 9/1 chance in the colours of breeder Charlie Latta.

Trained by his wife Yvonne, the four-year-old was towards the rear early before soon improving to track the leaders under John Gleeson.

In a race-winning move, she was sent to the front on the approach to the straight and quickly skipped a few lengths clear, eventually coming home four and a quarter-lengths to the good.

“She is not a big mare but is a lot bigger than the dam who was tiny,” Andrew Latta, representing his parents, commented.

Won three times

“My father bought the granddam (Party Woman) as a foal and she won three times before she chipped a bone in her knee. She produced Little Mitch then, who we still have at home.

“She might go for a mares’ winners’ bumper in Down Royal now or could go straight to the listed mares’ bumper at Gowran.”

There was further local cheer in the Elevate Financial Planning Opportunity Handicap Chase, with the Jonathan Fogarty-trained Iridescent (7/1) benefitting from a patient Kieran Callaghan ride.

On and off the bridle towards the rear, the nine-year-old, who was recording his third win of the summer, made rapid progress before four out and led after the next.

Strongly pressed and joined in the straight, he battled back gamely on the run-in to see off the effort of Downtown Queen by half-a-length.

“I’m delighted for his owners (the Touch Of Luck Syndicate) who are all from Wexford and it’s lovely to get a winner at our local track,” Fogarty stated.

Royal winner

Half-a-length was also the margin of victory in the Wexford Welcomes Racing TV Members Handicap Chase, with Royal Juniper (17/2 from 16s early) coming out on top.

There was little over three lengths between the first seven home in this two-mile heat, with the Tony Martin-trained victor never far from the pace under Peterjon Carberry.

Not fluent at times, the seven-year-old got to the front on the approach to the straight and maintained that narrow advantage all the way to the line, with Look Dont Touch and Itwasfate close-up in second and third respectively.

“He is a fine big horse, but things haven’t gone right for him,” Martin said of the Donal Houlihan owned chesnut.

“There was always going to be a day like today in him if we were patient enough to wait for it.”

THE many supporters of Sarah Beara hardly had a moment’s worry, as she stylishly landed a gamble in the Country Fest Wexford Sunday 13th August Handicap Hurdle.

Off an initial mark of 92, the Sam Curling-trained five-year-old was available at 10s in early shows for this three-mile contest and was eventually returned the 7/2 favourite.

Never far from the pace under Phillip Enright, the Westerner bay was left in front four out and travelled strongly into the straight.

In truth, she never came off the bridle and sauntered to a five-and-a-half length success in the colours of Galway native Mark Byrne.

“We thought she’d run well. She has improved with every run in maidens and this probably wasn’t a great handicap,” Curling reflected.

“She is in again on Monday at Ballinrobe and we will declare her in the morning if she is alright.”

Convincing winner

Riaan was another convincing winner, as he came home seven lengths to the good in the O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Beginners Chase.

A drifter in the market (6/1 from 2s early), the Gordon Elliott-trained bay jumped with aplomb on his debut over fences and made virtually all under Jack Kennedy.

He travelled best on the approach to two out and despite an untidy jump at the final fence, came home seven lengths clear in the colours of Philip Reynolds.

“He jumped brilliantly and I couldn’t have asked for better of him really,” Kennedy enthused.

“He is a big horse and is carrying a small bit of weight on his first run in a while, so there is room for improvement there.”