HARRY Cobden registered a first Wexford win on Wednesday, steering the J.P. McManus-owned Anodandawink (3/1f) to land the concluding handicap chase, thus also providing trainer Ciaran Murphy with a first success for the leading owner.
Runner-up on chase debut last month, the Maxios gelding made all and drew clear on the run-in to score by 10 lengths.
A delighted Murphy reported: “It is a big thrill to have my first winner for those colours; we had Enjoy D’Allen previously, who didn’t work out, and they kindly sent us this lad, so this is my second for Mr McManus.
“We didn’t have to give Harry (Cobden) any instructions; he told me what he would do and it was a lovely ride. He loved the ground and is a staying type.”
Famous silks
It was a big day for Joshua Halford, who registered a first success as a professional jockey on the Philip Rothwell-trained Ballybrittas (9/2) in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase.
Held up in rear, the seven-year-old improved to lead before the final bend and kept on well to score by two and a quarter lengths from Lady Doyanne.
“These are very famous colours (of Hardy Eustace) and Lar [Byrne] is a very good owner,” Rothwell explained.
“People obviously know that Lar is in rehab for the last number of months and he is doing very well. It will be a long while before we see Lar at the races next, but this is a fantastic boost for him and is a special winner.
“It is lovely to get Josh a winner, as I’d always have been friendly with his father Mick and mum Louise.”
HENRY de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe combined to land the opening two races, beginning with the Roger Kissane-owned Full Of Life (7/4) in the mares’ beginners’ chase.
A Grade 3 winner over hurdles last October, Full Of Life had disappointed on a prior outing at the Punchestown Festival but returned to form on return and made all to deny the favourite Future Prospect by a length.
De Bromhead reported: “She jumped brilliantly and it is good to see her back to form. She ran very well in the mares’ novice hurdle in Cheltenham when it was probably a tough ask for her, with the way we rode her.
“I’m delighted with how she jumped and hopefully she will keep progressing now. She has blacktype over hurdles and we’ll aim now for the (Grade 3) Kilbegnet Chase at Roscommon at the end of September, as she is a real two-miler and loves going that gallop.”
Unscathed
Half an hour later, the same combination landed a dramatic two-mile beginners’ chase with Sky Lord (6/4jf), in the colours of Basil Holian’s Watchman Racing
The Blue Bresil gelding raced in second for much of the way and led with two to jump. Two rivals unseated at an early stage and another two fell at the final fence, leaving Sky Lord to finish 70 lengths clear of Centreofattention.
De Bromhead said: “Sky Lord jumped well and galloped well. He has been frustrating, to be honest, but hopefully we have him back right again.
“He has got a gear so Darragh was saving that in today’s race. I presume he won’t move off this handicap mark as he didn’t beat anything so I’d say he will go back handicapping now.”
PHILLIP Enright was another jockey to record a double, beginning with impressive winner Queenofthelodge (9/4f) in the Wexford Quay Beginners Chase.
Racing behind the leaders, the Sink Or Swim Syndicate’s mare led from the second last and kept on well to score by 11 lengths from Los Blanco.
The winner received a great reception and afterwards winning trainer Sam Curling commented: “My farrier Dan (Breen) bred her and he leases her to the syndicate. They’re delighted and the mare is a half-sister to (Topham Chase winner) Will The Wise.
“I think she’ll make a better chaser than hurdler. She’ll go for a ladies’ flat race in Tramore (in August) and then go for the Kilbegnet Chase at Roscommon in September. She could progress a bit over fences.”
Deserving winner
Enright completed his brace in the following WTW Willis Handicap Chase, steering the Andy Slattery-trained Ceroc (9/4f) to win for the delighted owner Kay Russell.
Previously trained by Russell’s late husband Edward O’Grady, Ceroc was bridging a gap of three years between as he scored by 11 lengths, with Dorans Law the nearest of four rivals.
Enright reported: “Ceroc has been knocking on the door for ages and had always run well, being placed, and jumped from fence to fence today.
“It is great for Kay (Russell) and great to ride my first winner for the Slatterys.”
Game performance
Enright had to settle for runner-up honours in the Support Irish Injured Jockeys Handicap Chase, which saw Daniel King prevail aboard Farrokh (9/1) following a tight tussle in the home straight.
Owner/trained Barry Connell explained: “I get a great kick out of winning these 0-100s as I hardly ever win them. It’s normally Eoin McCarthy or those other brilliant trainers who operate well with these horses. We have an incredible range of trainers in this division and this horse finished second in this race two years ago.
“We tried him with blinkers and cheekpieces but took them all off today, except for a sheepskin noseband. He jumped well, never missed a beat and the jumping won it for him. There might be something over fences for him in Galway.”