THE Big Westerner lived up to her star billing at Wexford on Wednesday with an impressive performance in the Listed Michael Hickey Memorial Chase.
Henry de Bromhead’s charge had endured a frustrating spring after her victory in Grade 2 company at Limerick last Christmas.
She went to post a 1/3 shot on her return to action and there was never a moment’s worry in the two-mile-seven contest.
Only four went to post but it soon developed into a two-horse affair as Bossofthebrownies tracked the hotpot.
He came under pressure running down the hill to the home straight and The Big Westerner only had to be shaken up briefly by Darragh O’Keeffe on the run-in to secure an easy 15-length success.
“She jumped great, did everything right and looked to really enjoy herself. It’s nice to get her season started,” said de Bromhead.
“She’s in the Betfair Chase but it feels like it could be too soon. I probably regretted training her for Cheltenham last year, then we get there and the ground is too good.
“I’d say we’ll do more on softer ground this year and see where we are. We won’t be so Cheltenham focused.”
Big day
It was a big day for the Mariga family as their Coolmara Stables colours were also carried to victory by an exciting prospect in Palinca in the opening Racing TV Maiden Hurdle.
The Goliath Du Berlais mare was a £400,000 purchase after winning a point-to-point back in March and went to post 1/3 favourite on her track debut for de Bromhead.
O’Keeffe also made all on the four-year-old and she quickened away in style to post an 11-length win.
“Everyone was liking her at home and she was well recommended after her point-to-point. The Marigas bought her at Cheltenham,” said de Bromhead.
“It’s nice to see her go and do on the track what we’d been seeing at home. Sometimes that doesn’t happen, so it’s nice to see. She’s an exciting mare for us.”
PAUL Nolan is always a trainer to note at his local track and he had another memorable day at the venue with a treble on the card. An Peann Dearg went to post an 18/1 shot in the Botanica International Rated Novice Hurdle but came with a strong surge to give Nolan his first winner.
Sean O’Keeffe disputed over the last on the Well Chosen gelding and he got the better of Mystic Rose for a length success.
Nolan trains the gelding for the partnership of Anne Coffey, Susan Spence and Sonja Buckley, and said afterwards: “He was struggling over hurdles and we were going to step him up in trip. When this race came up with a little bit of nice soft ground we said we’d just sweeten him up a little bit.
“I knew when he was coming two out that we had a great chance. I’m just delighted to get him to win again.”
Quick-fire double
Nolan secured a quick brace in the following ‘unplaced’ maiden hurdle, sponsored by Racing TV, when Walking Saint ran out a convincing winner.
Eoin Staples produced the 10/3 shot to lead turning for home and she kept on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-quarter win in the colours of the Browne and Coffey families.
“I’d say she wants further. She hit the line reasonably well,” said Nolan. “She had been disappointing from her first run obviously and then when she qualified for this we said ‘if she doesn’t go well in this we’re going to be in big trouble.’”
Hat-trick completed
The haul was completed when the well-backed 11/8 favourite The Big Clubman made a winning start over fences in the beginners chase for the DKCR2 Partnership. Sean O’Keeffe recorded a double for himself when the Affinisea gelding asserted from the last fence to beat The Store Boy by two and a quarter lengths.
“I didn’t think he’d have the pace over two miles,” said Nolan. “I was delighted with the way he jumped the last and the second last. He was a bit sticky at a few. He knuckled down and I knew he’d stay then.”
SHINE On Sam was an eye-catcher in the market for the concluding bumper, backed from 33/1 into 8/1, and edged a great duel with Hartford late on.
The Mark Quigley-trained newcomer came to join the 4/7 favourite inside the final furlong and just had his head down at the right time for Adam Ryan to gain a short-head victory.
“It’s been a very lucky place for me,” said Ryan afterwards of the Evelyn Casserly-owned gelding. “I’m after riding a couple of winners for Mark Quigley in bumpers. If he has the horse, he’s well able to produce them. It’s just nice to get my leg over them.”
Justified support
Support for the John McConnell-trained Agent Tequila also proved well founded as he opened his ‘track’ account in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap Hurdle.
Alex Harvey led turning for home on the Getaway gelding and he held the renewed challenge of The Cobblers Wife to score by half a length. The 13/2 winner had traded at 18/1 in the morning. Harvey said: “He’s been a frustrating horse. Things haven’t really gone his way. We’ve had a clear run of it for the last month or so with him and it was an ideal opportunity to get his head in front. I’m delighted for the owners (Flyers Syndicate). They have this lad three years and he’s got the monkey off his back there.”