PAUL Nolan dominated proceedings at his local track, when saddling a 422/1 plus treble including Sageborough in the featured Botanica International Rated Hurdle.

The Browne and Coffey families-owned 10/1 chance was thought good enough to take his chance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and added to a debut win in a maiden hurdle here last autumn, when quickening past the leader on the run-in to score by a length and a quarter.

“He was actually running a respectable race in Cheltenham when he fell two from home,” said Nolan.

“Today, off his mark, we would have been disappointed if he hadn’t been involved. Sean (O’Keeffe) was pleased with him, and I’d say that’s his ground (good to yielding). We won’t be letting him out to grass.”

Nice surprise

The patiently-ridden Kiltealy Park added to Nolan’s haul with an unlikely success in the Rosslare Strand Hurdle.

Dani Donadoni asserted off the home bend and looked sure to score when three lengths clear at the last, but the 4/5 favourite wilted in the closing stages and Kiltealy Park (6/1) got up on the line under Alan O’Sullivan to score by a neck for the Browne Bros Partnership.

“It didn’t look likely and I’d say yer man must have been 1/100 jumping the last!” said Nolan. “It was ideal today in a four-runner race to lob around and get her confidence back. It looked all over and I would have been happy with second, but she galloped well to the line.”

Support justified

He’s My Hero overcame an absence of over three years to complete Nolan’s treble in the Wexford Racing Again 30th June INH Flat Race.

The Twelve County Syndicate-owned son of Telescope attracted support with quotes of 10/1 earlier in the day trimmed into 9/2 by the off and dug deep inside the final furlong to get the better of Weaponized, whose rider Barry Stone was given a two-day whip ban, by half a length.

“He’s a horse that should improve an awful lot, and Jack (Hendrick) said he blew up two furlongs from home,” said Nolan.

“He always showed that he was a decent horse, but he got injured. We had him back and then he went again. He was only beaten a length by Croke Park in his point-to-point and then his form was good, but unfortunately the injuries happened.”

WATERFORD trainer Pat O’Connor turned back the clock to record a ‘lovely’ win in division two of the Treo Eile Handicap Hurdle as Topothelane scored in decisive fashion.

The lightly-raced nine-year-old won a point-to-point back in 2023 and only joined O’Connor this year after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The 14/1 shot, available at double those odds earlier in the day, led off the home turn and soon asserted under Mike O’Connor to win by an easy 11 lengths.

“I had given up training horses, but my daughters (Joanne and Deirdre) are very interested, so I got the licence back,” said O’Connor, who trains the gelding for his wife Norma.

“I have to thank one man, Dr Joe O’Keeffe from Tallow, who told me he was giving up and asked me if I wanted the horse. I’m at it a long time, but I hadn’t the horses and had owners pass away. I wouldn’t be going out looking for people. This is lovely.”

Great owners

Division one went the way of Kilt, with Philip Rothwell’s charge pulling to the front after halfway and the 13/2 shot (20/1 in the morning) maintained a strong gallop in the straight under Shane O’Callaghan to score by four lengths.

“That’s fantastic as he’s been a very tricky horse and was a runaway on the flat,” said Rothwell.

“The owners are great. The Sloans are from the north and it’s the first horse they’ve had with me, while William Jones is from Dubai and married to one of my best friends.”

KARLYNN confirmed the promise of his second at Cork earlier this month, when making all for a very easy victory in the Discover Wexford Maiden Hurdle.

Trained by John Burke for the FDK Syndicate, the 5/2 favourite drew clear early in the straight under Eoin Walsh and stretched further clear to win by a facile 15 lengths.

Burke’s brother and assistant Martin said: “He’s improving the whole time, and is only a four-year-old. He seems to stay well and the way he jumps, I think he’ll be a nice horse over fences in time.

“We buried the man that got him for us, (James) ‘Biscuit’ Boland today. Only for him we wouldn’t have had him, so this is for Biscuit.”

Flying form

Karl Thornton saddled his third winner in the space of six days as Rich Belief (9/1) recorded an eighth career win in the Wexford Claiming Hurdle.

The Ivan Keeling-owned gelding was ridden to lead approaching the last before being driven out by Ben Harvey to score by two and three-quarter lengths. There were no claims for any of the nine runners.

“He’s only had four runs over hurdles since he won a good pot in Kelso,” said Thornton.

“You could set your clock by him, as he’d always win once a year. The fact that he had a couple of runs on the flat, going back over hurdles he was just that bit sharper.”

Correct trip

Lecale’s Diamond appreciated the step up to three miles when opening his account under Keith Donoghue in the Wexford Harbour Handicap Hurdle.

Trained by Gavin Cromwell for Michael Byrne, the 9/2 shot was far from fluent at the final two flights, but got on top inside the final 100 yards to win by a length and a quarter.

“He had a good run the last day, which brought him on. He could come back in trip, as he does travel strong, but he’s a good stayer at the same time,” said Donoghue.