THE beginners’ and novice contests were the main focus of interest on Wexford’s all-chase card, which saw the resumption of the Irish National Hunt season after a 15-day hiatus.
State Man’s half-brother Soir De Garde (11/2) was the lesser fancied of two Willie Mullins-trained runners in the two-mile beginners’ chase and overcame a few errors on his first run over fences to win in the colours of Marie Donnelly.
Always on the sharp end, the lightly-raced eight-year-old headed stablemate Nadia’s Boy after the last and stayed on well to beat William Tell by a length and a quarter.
“He’ll learn plenty jumping-wise, but it was a good performance,” said jockey Sean O’Keeffe. “He did plenty wrong and was a little bit keen, but when I got stuck into him, he found plenty. His jumping will sharpen up and hopefully there will be improvement that way.”
Lady in the lead
Owned and trained by Hugh Finegan, Lady Bluebird sprang a 20/1 surprise when running out a game winner of the Cottage Autism Network Mares Beginners Chase over two and a half miles.
Soon in front on her fencing debut, the nine-year-old was very good over the obstacles, but was headed by Future Prospect on the approach to the last before rallying on the run-in to post a length success.
Jockey Ben Harvey reported: “She got into a brilliant rhythm and jumped well. I felt she was just waiting on me as we left the back, so I gave her a squeeze early and she winged the last two and was very tough to the line.”
Rockonliam was steadily backed from early morning for the Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Beginners Chase over two and a half miles and duly justified 1/1 favouritism under Darragh O’Keeffe.
The dual hurdles winner is a brother to Scottish National winner Captain Cody and jumped well on this first run over regulation fences, racing behind the leaders before taking over two out to beat Ned In The Park by four and a half lengths.
Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead said: “I’m delighted with that. We always hoped that he would improve for fences and it looks like he will.
“He’s owned by The Cheeky Pups, who are great supporters of ours and of the game.”
A HURDLES winner at Bellewstown last summer, Garnacho made a good start over fences when justifying 11/4 favouritism in the two and a half mile rated novice chase.
The son of Affinisea, owned by Pegasus Racing Ltd, made steady headway on the final circuit and headed Costacurta between the final two fences for a two-and-a-half-length victory.
Winning trainer Mark Fahey said: “He was good. It was a novice chase and he was well suited, as he got a few pounds off his back for not winning a race. It’s great for Tom (O’Connor, rider) to get a winner over fences as well.”
Patience pays off
Bred by owner Peter Tarrant, bottom weight Mic Drop (5/1) followed up a win at Limerick in May when landing the featured Tintern Trails Handicap Chase over two miles.
Josh Williamson’s mount had moved into a strong-travelling third when meeting some interference from a loose horse after three out, but the Soldier Of Fortune gelding improved to lead before the next and used that same loose horse as something to aim at as he was ridden out to beat Femme Magnifique by five and a half lengths.
“He is a horse that is improving and I always liked him,” said trainer, David O’Brien.
“He won his point-to-point and his bumper, then lost his way. The owner is after being so patient with him and, thank God, he’s reaping the rewards now.”
CHOSEN Shant recorded her third win at Wexford when taking the 0-100 handicap chase over two miles in the hands of J.J. Slevin. The 9/1 chance raced close to the pace throughout the two-mile contest and went on after the second-last to beat L’amiral Fromentin by three and three-quarter lengths.
The 10-year-old carries the colours of winning trainer, Aengus King, who said: “She loves it around here. If she won another one for us, we’d be over the moon. I only got a gift of her, I’m gifting her back in January and the owner is going breeding from her.”
Local success
It’s rare for a Wexford meeting to take place without Paul Nolan getting on the scoresheet and the Enniscorthy handler duly came up with a nice-priced winner for his many local supporters when Rue Taylor (12/1) took the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase over two miles, seven furlongs.
The blinkered French-bred was on and off the bridle from early and came from well off the pace to get the better of a good tussle on the run-in with Teenage Kiss. Owned by Anne Coffey and Susan Spence, Nolan’s six-year-old shaded the verdict by a neck on her first start in a handicap, with the first two well clear of the remainder.
“She just does enough,” said rider Carl Millar. “She always races behind the bridle, but they were going a good gallop in front and she’s a super jumper. I was hoping her jumping might just keep her there all the way. In fairness to her, she showed good guts at the back of the last.” Millar (five days) and the runner-up’s rider Charlie O’Dwyer (four days) were both suspended for breaches of the whip rules.