CONOR O’DWYER’S evergreen performer Prosperity Square seems to have found a new lease of life since retirement was first mooted for the 12-year-old and he put his best foot forward for Rachael Blackmore to come out on top in the Open 172 Handicap Chase at Wexford by two and a quarter lengths from Presenting Mahler.
Owen Curtin’s 8/1 shot was also successful over the course last month and O’Dwyer, whose explanation regarding the horse’s apparent improvement in form was noted, commented: “That’s twice now I’ve been wrong with the ground. I’d say on his last two runs it had dried again and when things are happening too quickly for him he’s too old to keep going, whereas when the ground is softer he loves it and it slows the others down.
“We had thought of retiring him and he won’t go on winter ground, but there are still plenty of races for him, one back here and another one in Sligo. That’s his sixth race – he’s a fabulous horse to have and Rachael gave him an absolutely brilliant ride – she did exactly what I told her.”
Paulstown trainer Mag Mullins and her son Danny combined to good effect when taking the honours in the www.wexfordraces.ie Maiden Hurdle with 6/1 chance Get Smart for his Italian owner-Daniel Furini.
The towering six-year-old Oscar gelding, who was also bred by Furini, led between the last two and only had to be kept up to his work to deliver by two lengths from the disappointing favourite Sharps Choice. Get Smart’s owner also has Logical Song with Mullins and his handler commented: “He’s a nice man and has been lucky for me. He boards a couple of mares with George Williams.
“This horse is improving all the time and might just be a nice horse for those novices. We’ll see how he improves, but he hasn’t done anything wrong since he came.”
Curragh trainer Martin Brassil struck in the two and a half-mile Monart Handicap Hurdle with the Paul Townend-ridden 11/8 favourite I Will Follow who had too many guns for his rivals in accounting for Lockeen Girl by three and three-quarter lengths.
Brassil has care of the five-year-old French-bred for well-known pinhooker Mark Dwyer and his wife Jane and reported: “That’s the first winner I’ve trained for them and I’m glad I’ve rewarded them for their patience!
“I just didn’t know if he’d handle summer easy ground, because he couldn’t handle soft to heavy winter ground, but I just saw this race and it’ll be a stepping stone to somewhere else. I’d like to try and get a race into him between now and Listowel.”
Valgor Du Ronceray headed the betting for the Ferrybank Open Beginners Chase, only to unseat his rider at the seventh fence, while the same owner’s Theatre Wine made his exit at the fifth, leaving Forever Dylan in front.
Turning for home, however, Fenlon’s Hill held the call and was being chased in third by the improving eventual 14/1 winner Market’s Field who got the better of a dour struggle with Caniwillyegiveme to win the day narrowly for J.P. McManus by a head in the hands of Donal McInereney.
“That was a lovely waiting ride from Donal,” was Enda Bolger’s reaction to the win. “He was disappointing over hurdles, so we said we’d crack on over fences but, then the race fell apart with the two fallers. He’ll go on winter ground and the soft ground played to him today.”
Wexford has been a happy hunting ground for Liam Lennon in the past and he was on the mark again with the J.J. Slevin-ridden I’m An Izz Wizz in the Adare Manor Opportunity 0-109 Handicap Hurdle. Owned and bred by John Turner, from Dunacloney in Co. Down, who rides him out every day, the 4/1 chance was chased home, four and a half lengths back, by the 3/1 favourite William Du Berlais.
Lennon said: “I thought the ground had maybe gone against him, but he coped with it okay and he’ll go to Galway for the Galway Blazers. He jumped a bit right which was a worry, but I’m delighted for John and J.J. rode him to perfection.”
The Michael McCullagh-trained Milestone Prince reaped the reward for a number of good placed efforts with a well-earned success under Paddy Kennedy in the three mile Ocean Harvest Technology 80-95 Handicap Hurdle.
Carrying the red and yellow colours of Sean Foley from Bagenalstown, the Gold Well gelding touched down in front at the fourth last and went away to justify 4/1 favouritism by an eight-length margin from Tranquil Magic.
Milestone Prince was due to be entered for another three-mile event at Galway, with his trainer reflecting: “On that run today he deserves an entry and we’ll have a look at it.”
Champion amateur Jamie Codd teamed up with Gordon Elliott for a well-deserved success aboard the 6/5 favourite Osco Mosco in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race. The four-year-old daughter of Oscar is in the ownership of Nelius O’Keeffe from Charleville and she found more when it mattered to get the better of Lucca Lady and the long-time leader Tasigohalainn by three-quarters of a length and half a length.
Elliott’s representative Ian Amond reported: “She deserved it and battled well and stays going. She’ll go over hurdles after that and will pay her way for the summer.”
ACTING STEWARDS
M.C. Hickey, P.Coveney, D.P. Hickey,
P.D. Matthews.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
GET SMART (M Mullins): Lightly-raced, he showed a very willing attitude with his two-length defeat of Sharps Choice in the two-mile maiden hurdle and looks open to further improvement.