IT was a good night for the Smithers brothers at Wexford last Friday, with both hitting the board. Peter Smithers struck first when Splashing Out made all for a cosy victory in the Neville Hotels Handicap Hurdle.

The Eoin Griffin-trained mare went to post a 6/1 shot to bounce back from a disappointing show at Galway and scored in fine style, posting a six-length success over Jabbar.

“She just didn’t handle Galway and we knew it was too bad to be true,” said Griffin of J.P. McManus’s mare.

“Normally I wouldn’t run her back this quickly, but it looked like an attractive pot and there weren’t many entries, so we decided to stick her in.

“The more positive tactics seem to be working with her. She can be tricky and she just likes things her own way.”

Contrasting tactics

Thirty-five minutes later, in-form claimer Conor Smithers fired in another winner, when employing contrasting, hold-up tactics, on Strong Contender.

He produced the Norman Lee-trained filly to lead after the second last and the 11/1 shot went on to post a comprehensive nine-length victory over Tango Theatre.

“It’s great to get that. We had a run of a lot of bad horses over the last year and a half and it’s been tough going,” said Lee.

“She’s a grand little filly and she’ll progress away. Hopefully, there is another day in her. She belongs to a great owner and he’s been with me since the start. Any day you get a winner for Michael Hogan is a great day.”

IT was also a family affair in the first division of the Pat Farrell Memorial Handicap Hurdle, as Who’s Da Goose won for the McCarthys.

Gary Noonan produced the 25/1 shot with a strong surge on the long home-run as the Dartmouth gelding got up to beat Sekakarma by three-parts of a length.

Eoin McCarthy trains the winner for his daughter Clodagh and he revealed: “Clodagh finished up her leaving cert and came working for me, and I said we’d get a store together. We bought this fella and I’m delighted for her more than anything.

“He’s a lovely little horse and he might tip away in that kind of company. It was a messy race. I think they went too hard and Gary was dropped in. It probably fell in our lap a little bit, but we’ll take it any day we get it!”

Omissions

The final two flights in the straight were also omitted in the second division of the contest, due to the sun, and Esticky End also launched his challenge on the flat to secure victory.

Tom McGuinness’ charge pulled away in the closing stages to record a five-length win under Paddy O’Brien, following up on his success at the course last month.

The local trainer said of the 6/1 winner: “It’s nice at the age of eight when they hit a bit of form. There have been plenty of times he’s been out of love with the game and we’ve just tried to coax him back into it.

“I think the trick is not to work him at home, we just do slow work. We’re only down the road in Rosslare and it’s nice to win here. It’s amazing how many people are following him and talking about him. There is an ever-growing fan club, which is great.”

ROSS Sugrue’s decision to give it a go as a professional reaped rewards when Rosenborg gave him his first winner in the paid ranks in the opening Think Print and Design Maiden Hurdle.

The 7lb-claimer gave Philip Rothwell’s charge a well-judged front-running ride in the two-miler to record a two-and-a-half-length win over Sea Eagle.

The winning rider said: “It’s brilliant. I’ve only started a few weeks with Philip and I think that’s my 10th ride for him. It’s a great start.

“I got a lot of support point-to-pointing, from all the Doyles and James Kenny. I rode 23 winners point-to-pointing and rode for good people.

“Thanks very much to Philip and the owners (Kathy’s Crew Syndicate) for letting me ride her, it was great.”

Twist gains deserved win

Tropical Twist made the breakthrough for Gordon Elliott when claiming the Treo Eile Mares Handicap Hurdle.

Jack Kennedy produced the 17/2 shot to lead before the last in the two-miler and she knuckled down well in the closing stages to beat Game Phoenix by three-parts of a length.

Kennedy said afterwards: “She had a lovely run here the last day. One jumped slow at the first then and I jumped into them and lost my position. She got no run after that, but ran a nice race.

“We were hoping she’d go close today. She had a great run around and switched out then going to the second last. She jumped that well and got underneath the last, but was always doing enough.”

’Like a motorbike’

Willie Mullins was also on the scoresheet, when Get It Girl landed the concluding bumper. Patrick Mullins stuck close to the rail throughout on the 4/1 shot and she led a furlong and a half from home to beat Bredas Pearl by two lengths.

The winner had been third on her debut at Thurles last October and the winning rider said: “She improved from last year. She was very green in Thurles and jumped the road twice.

“She was like a motorbike around the bends and we were able to stay really tight on fresh ground on the very inside.

“One of the girls who owns her, Emma (Lawrie), it’s her birthday (owns along with sisters Heather and Hazel). They are staying in Wexford, so they’ll enjoy it.”