CHARLIE O’Dwyer made full use of a spare ride aboard R’Evelyn Pleasure to land the featured Arctic Tack Stud Veterans Handicap Chase at Wexford.

O’Dwyer (19), partnering his first winner over fences and his eighth in total, was replacing Mark McDonagh who was sidelined after a fall at Naas the previous afternoon.

The Sean O’Brien-trained 3/1 chance made good headway to lead at the penultimate fence in this two-mile, four-furlong event and soon took control to score by four lengths from Neverushacon with Kavanaghs Corner a further two lengths adrift in third.

“I rode against his father!” confessed a still fresh-faced O’Brien in reference to O’Dwyer’s dad Conor before adding, “Charlie gave him a lovely ride.

It’s misfortunate for Mark that he has missed out after a shoulder blade injury yesterday. To be fair Mark rang this morning and said to be good and positive on him and try and stay out of trouble. He’d a lot of input into this.

Consistent

“You have to applaud HRI for putting on these races. He’s been pitched in the deep end for so long and has been a very consistent horse. He might head to Fairyhouse over Easter ground permitting and if it’s something like today we will have no issue with it. Mark McDonagh (owner) is over in Cyprus sunning himself and will be glad of his winner today.”

Prayer answered

Danny Mullins partnered a near 33/1 double on this early evening card initiated by Recite A Prayer, sporting the Cheltenham Festival-winning Billaway colours of John Turner, in the Download The BoyleSports App Novice Handicap Chase.

The field was cut in half to just six runners mainly due to the drying ground which was officially changed to good after the second race.

Advantage

The Willie Mullins-trained 11/4 shot was up with the pace throughout, although Railway Hurricane held a slight advantage when that rival jumped badly left at the last. Recite A Prayer took full advantage and held off the renewed effort of Railway Hurricane to score by half a length.

Danny Mullins said: “It was a good performance and two fast jumps at the last two fences probably sealed it for him. He just made one mistake all the way around. He’s progressing and it’s good to see him handle that nice ground.”

DANNY Mullins later teamed up with his father Tony to take division two of Ire Wel Pallets Ltd Handicap Chase with Fox Watch. The Sholokhov gelding overcame interference from Lessofdnegativity, who jumped badly right at the second last, and held off that rival on the run-in to score by three-quarters of a length.

“I thought he’d win the last day in Leopardstown and he came to win his race but maybe we left him a bit short. Maybe the longer trip made the difference. We’ll stay going with him and he’s a horse for the festivals over the summer,” said Tony Mullins who trains the 8/1 winner for John Dollard.

Lady commands

Division one of this extended three-mile, one-furlong event went to Lady McCabe, both owned and trained near Killeagh in east Cork by Martin Fitzgerald.

The Yeats mare, available at 16/1 overnight and sent off at just 5/1, was never too far from the pace and took command from early in the straight under Darragh O’Keeffe to beat Krisquin by an easy 11 lengths.

THERE was another father and son victory in the opening Tomcoole Farm Ltd Maiden Hurdle where Sadie’s Pride (12/1) scored in good style for Liam and James Kenny.

The daughter of Kalanisi, owned by Paddy Redmond whose purple and yellow colours are best associated with 2010 Champion Chase winner Big Zeb, asserted after two out and kept on well to beat Eyre Square by five and a half lengths.

“She did it well as the last day she was far from beat on soft ground in Gowran. It’s grand that she will go on both types of ground,” said Liam Kenny, who is based near Gorey. “We’ll probably pick out a race in Punchestown and it would be nice to get some blacktype somewhere along the line.”

In from Outback

Outback Flyer also took it up just before the penultimate flight in the Slaney River Mares Maiden Hurdle and Kevin Sexton didn’t need to get too serious as the 7/2 shot kept on well on the run-in to beat Sainte Dona by four and three-quarter lengths.

“She’s a filly we thought a lot of on her homework and we aimed her quite high. It probably knocked her confidence a bit but that should give her some confidence,” said trainer Peter Fahey.

“I’m delighted for the owners Johnny and Janice (Deacon) who are local and it’s the first horse they have had with me. She struggled during the winter and may find easier targets over the summer. She’s big enough to jump a fence as well.”

Hail Caesar

Caesar Rock got in as first reserve in the Brendan Cullimore Electrical Contractors Rated Novice Hurdle and the son of Mahler proceeded to make virtually all under Ricky Doyle.

The 15/2 (from 10/1) shot was strongly pressed by Mr Saxobeat in the straight but kept on well under pressure to beat that rival by a length and a quarter.

“That was a bonus as he’s going chasing and jumps super. He goes on the ground and all he does is jumps and stays,” said Mouse Morris, who trains the six-year-old for Michael and John O’Flynn.