PAUL Nolan and Bryan Cooper made the most of every opportunity at Wexford on Saturday last, with both recording trebles. The pair joined forces for two of the three wins.

Cooper teamed up with Andrew McNamara for his initial success aboard Flamingo’s Court (6s in early shows, and from 7/2 to 3/1 favouritism on-course) in the Coast Kilmore Quay Mares Maiden Hurdle.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey, in the colours of Andrew Heffernan, kept it simple on this daughter of Court Cave.

She was pressed by Mag Brady on the run to two out, but soon had her measure, going on to prevail by a length and a half despite wandering slightly on the run-in.

McNamara, who was racing in Mallow and recorded his third winner of the week. Afterwards he said: “We bought her from the late Peter Casey last year and he recommended her to us, so it was nice for his family she won today.

“Her owner Dr Andrew Heffernan wanted to go for this race as it is sponsored by his son Michael, and she also picked up a €5,000 bonus for winning today. It’s been a fantastic week.”

TREBLE

The Kerry pilot quickly made it two aboard Monotype (2/1 favourite) for Nolan in the Coast Hotels & Resort Rated Hurdle.

Settled towards rear, the John Brennan-owned gelding made progress on the outer from three out, and was pushed along to lead after the next. Great Khan threw down a strong challenge approaching the last, however the winner proved game under pressure, going on to score by half a length.

“Bryan was brilliant on him. He is a top class jockey, he is a multiple Grade 1 winning jockey, and we’ll use him when we get him,” Nolan explained.

“He is definitely a winter ground horse. He’s had a hard enough season, and he might make a nice staying chaser for next season.” added Nolan.

Cooper rounded off a perfect afternoon by guiding Castafiore Park (8/1), again for Nolan, to victory in the Freddie Doyle Memorial & Liz Doyle Racing Handicap Hurdle.

Prominent on the outer, the Philip Byrne-owned six-year-old was ridden to the front two out, and kept on well under pressure to fend off all challengers by half a length.

“I’d say we’ll leave her off now,” Nolan divulged, he added: “She won a point-to-point easily and I think she’ll be better over a fence.”

LOCAL SUCCESS

Chisholm Trail made it three from three for Nolan in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race. Fifth to subsequent Champion Bumper winner Relegate in a Leopardstown Grade 2 on her last start, the daughter of Presenting went to post the 2/1 favourite.

Settled in mid-division by Patrick Mullins, she came with her challenge from two furlongs out, and soon got to the front, keeping on well under pressure from there to oblige by four lengths.

Owner John Brennan, who teamed up with Nolan to win the Galway Hurdle with Cuan Na Grai in 2006, completed a double of his own with this daughter of Presenting.

Enniscorthy-based Nolan said: “I was worried about the ground, I’d say she will appreciate nicer ground and she jumps well. We’ll probably look for a little summer campaign for her.”

There was further local success in the Coast Rosslare Strand Handicap Hurdle, with Officers Mess (7/1) coming out on top under Ricky Doyle. Conor O’Dwyer, who is originally from Wexford but now lives in Kildare, trains this son of Beat Hollow who was making his handicap debut in this two-mile heat.

“It’s lovely to come home and have a winner here,” O’Dwyer remarked, he added: “He has always been a nice horse. I just thought the ground might be a bit tacky for him. He’ll be a nice horse for the future and he will improve a hell of a lot.”

Sent straight to the front by Doyle, the Paddy McCormack owned bay raced in a clear lead for much of the contest. He was pressed by 33/1 outsider Lady Mangan approaching the straight, and was ridden after two out, keeping on best under pressure on the run-in to triumph by a neck.

STRONG FINISH

Fergiethelegend was also returned at 7/1, as he rolled back the years in the Bolands Mercedes-Benz Wexford Handicap Chase.

The John Carr-trained bay landed a touch in doing so, opening on-course at 12s, having been available at 25s in early shows. Prominent throughout under Cathal Landers, he led from the eighth and went clear from four out. He kept up the gallop and won by 11 lengths for owner John Farrell.

Carr, winner of the Champion Hurdle in 2007 with Sublimity, said afterwards: “He ran okay in the banks race at Punchestown last week. We were hoping he’d have a chance off a light weight on that ground. We’ll find something else for him in a couple of weeks.”

The other chase on the card, the Building The Future Beginners, went the way of the Jessica Harrington-trained Fintara. Second on two previous attempts over the larger obstacles, the daughter Kayf Tara was sent off at 3/1 under Robbie Power for owners Sally Rowley-Williams and John Linehan.

Settled in second, she improved to lead before four out. She was pressed at the second last, but kept on best under pressure from the final fence, going on to prevail by two and three parts of a length.

“She is definitely a better mare over fences than she is over hurdles”, said Power. “She just took her time to warm into it today, she was a bit careful early on, but the further the race went on, the better she travelled,” Power added.

ACTING STEWARDS

N. Lambert, R. MacAuley, P. Coveney, P.D Matthews.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

BACKSHEESH (T. Mullins): This well-bred daughter of Big Bad Bob ran a fine race on debut, finishing third in the bumper behind two more experienced rivals. She should come on plenty for the run, and looks capable of picking up a similar contest soon.