WINNING favourites were the order of the day at Wexford on Sunday, with seven of the eight races won by horses at the head of the betting.

The first successful market leader was Sapphire Lady in the Casey Tarmacadam Mares Hurdle, with this victory the initial leg of a treble for Paul Townend.

Sent off a 4/6 chance, the Willie Mullins-trained bay got to the front at the fifth. She was pressed from three out, but extended her advantage approaching the next, going on to register an easy seven-and-a-half-length success.

“I suppose she just had an off day at Limerick, but that was more like it today,” Townend said of the Anthony Butler-owned and bred six-year-old.

Mullins and Townend doubled their tally with Eight And Bob (5/6 favourite) in the Casey Enterprises Handicap Hurdle.

In the colours of the Act D Wagg Syndicate, who enjoyed plenty of big race success with Clondaw Warrior, this five-year-old gelding had a good battle with Walkers Point from two out, with a length and three-quarters separating them at the line.

David Casey, whose wife Aine is a co-owner, joked: “That’ll keep the women happy. Happy wife, happy life! He is a fun horse, I don’t think he is any Clondaw Warrior but he is after winning now and that’s all you want.”

TREBLE

Townend completed his three-timer on Silver Planeur (4/1 favourite) in the Casey Concrete Gorey Handicap Hurdle.

Trained by Eric McNamara, this French-bred grey raced in mid-division but moved into a closer third from three out, as clear leader Court Adjourned began to run on empty.

The Rathkeale House Syndicate-owned victor swept through to lead before the next, and kept up the gallop from there to score by five and a half lengths.

“I was a little worried that the one in front wasn’t going to come back, but I knew from the top of the hill that she wasn’t going to stay going,” remarked Townend.

“The ground is testing and the race probably fell apart, it suited us coming from behind. It was a good honest test and we got a good lead into it.”

TACTICS

In contrast to those waiting tactics, Peacocks Secret (9/4 favourite) made virtually all in the Casey Bros Supporting Their Local Racecourse Beginners Chase.

In front before the second, the Shark Hanlon-trained six-year-old was pushed along approaching two out, and kept on well when ridden before the last, holding off the fast finish of Cresus De Grissay (25s to 10s) by a length.

“The plan was to use his experience and he was entitled to win that today,” stated Rachael Blackmore who was aboard the successful bay for owner Antoinette Mee.

Blackmore had to settle for second on Notebook in the Casey Cattle Slats Maiden Hurdle, with Sometime Soon (2/1 favourite) leading home a one-two for Gigginstown House Stud in this two-mile contest.

Having filled the runner-up spot on his debut over flights at Fairyhouse, the Gordon Elliott-trained victor was expected to go one better here.

Towards the head of affairs throughout under Keith Donoghue, the son of Shantou led approaching the straight, and needed to be kept up to his work on the run-in to succeed by half a length.

“He was just idling a bit in front. I knew when I hit the front and went for him that he was just doing enough,” Donoghue reflected.

“It was good to get the win and he’ll come on a lot for it. There will be plenty more to look forward to over longer distances.”

FEATURE

Sometime Soon was returned at 2/1, and so was Neddyvaughan who led home his nine rivals in the feature race on the programme, the Casey Precast Handicap Chase.

Successful at Fairyhouse just over a fortnight ago, the Padraig Roche-trained chesnut raced in second here under Kevin Brouder, with Presenting Mahler taking them along in front.

A good jump at the fourth last saw the seven-year-old sweep to the front, and he kept up the gallop in the straight, seeing off the effort of Peculiar Genius by two and a half lengths.

Roche, who trains the winner for the Beechpark Racing Syndicate, reported: “He is surprising me a bit as he is improving the whole time. It was a great prize to win with him.

“I was always worried about that trip but I’d say now that all he does is stay. It opens up more options for him.”

Paul Nolan, trainer of the aforementioned Peculiar Genius, had a rather frustrating afternoon at his local track, saddling the runner-up in four successive races.

He was responsible for newcomer Positive Outlook in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race, with this one finding Owenacurra Lass (2/1 joint-favourite) two and three-quarter lengths too good.

Trained and ridden by Declan Queally, the daughter of Gold Well travelled strongly behind the leaders on the approach to the straight, and soon burst through to lead, keeping on well in the closing stages in the colours of owner David Needham.

“She deserved that, to be fair – her bumper form tied in with Court Maid and Colreevy. It’s nice to win a bumper with her, especially with the bonuses,” commented Queally.

“She will probably go for a maiden hurdle somewhere now.”

Barwell ensured it wasn’t clean sweep for market leaders, as he put in an impressive performance to take the opening Casey Concrete Blocks Maiden Hurdle.

A three-time winner on the level for Michael Dods, and making his debut over flights here, the Alan Fleming-trained gelding was sent off at 5/1 under Donagh Meyler.

Settled in second, the Rock Of Gibraltar bay closed on the front-running Panther Soul from four out, and was on terms from the next.

He got to the front before the last, and stretched clear with the minimum of fuss on the run-in, coming home 10 lengths to the good.

Winning owner Barry Connell revealed in the aftermath: “He has taken the skin off his back leg there and it looks nasty. Hopefully he will be alright.

“He is a big horse and does everything easily. If we can patch him up and get him back in one piece I think he could be fairly smart.”

ACTING STEWARDS

N. Lambert, J. McEnery, Ms D. Brophy, D. Hickey, M.F. O’Donoghue.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

NOTEBOOK (H. de Bromhead): This German-bred gelding lost little in defeat when finding Sometime Soon just half a length too good. Bought for £70,000 after winning a point-to-point at Dromahane in May, he can be expected to make the breakthrough over hurdles soon.