CHAMPION jockey Paul Townend grabbed two winners from two rides at Wexford last Saturday. Both his mounts for boss Willie Mullins struck gold on a gloriously sunny day at the south-east venue.

Authorized Art initiated the brace when swooping in good style to land the Poolcourt Rated Hurdle.

The 9/2 shot, in the colours of Nicholas Peacock, made swift progress to lead two from home and soon settled matters, going on to record a comprehensive four-and-three-quarter lengths victory.

“He left a few disappointing runs behind him and the cheek-pieces helped,” said Townend. “The way he jumps he’ll have no problem jumping a fence and I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw him over them sooner rather than later.”

Ganapathi thrills

Townend had to work a bit harder on Ganapathi who prevailed after a thrilling finish to the Freddie Doyle Memorial Novice Chase. The Samum gelding was prominent throughout on his chasing debut and fought it out with Genois from the back of the second last fence. Joe Donnelly’s charge found a bit more late on to beat his rival by a length-and-a-half after a good duel.

“The fences have revived him a bit. He travelled well for a long time in Punchestown and cut out quick but there he found plenty for pressure,” said the winning rider. “I’d say the ground helped him as well.”

IT was a good day for female competitors on the card with four of the races won by mares. The opening maiden hurdle was a race for ‘unplaced’ mares and Good As Hell justified 2/1 favouritism.

Brian Hayes made all on Philip Fenton’s charge and she had enough up her sleeve late on to hold It’saleader by a length-and-a-quarter.

“Going to the second last you’d say she was going to win easily but she was all out at the end. I’m just glad we held on,” said Fenton. “I’m pleased to get a win for James Moran who unfortunately lost Akito a few years back and lost Even Flight last December. It’s nice to get a change of luck.”

Buzzing Bee

Junior Bee gained a deserved success when just prevailing in a photo-finish to claim the BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle. The Mark Molloy-trained 13/8 favourite battled it out with Tullypole Annie from the second last and just had her head down at the right time to record a short-head victory under Jordan Gainford.

“She’s a mare that is settling with racing, she’s always been very keen, and it’s nice to see her get her head in front. She deserved that,” said Molloy. “We might give a little chance after that and I’m looking forward to her going over fences.”

Robyn shocks

Robyndeglory bounced back to form when springing a 25/1 shock in the Irish Injured Jockeys Handicap Hurdle. Turbojet looked to have done everything right from the front in the three-miler but was chased down close home by the Fame And Glory mare.

Trainer/jockey Declan Queally got a good tune from his mount to pounce late for a half-length win under trainer/jockey Declan Queally.

“The tongue-tie worked the oracle, she had been stopping in her races and we’d been trying different things,” said Queally, in the colours of Bridget O’Mahony. “Even turning in I could feel her feeling her wind so I said to myself ‘take you time if you want’. There was no major panic and she kept picking up for me so it was great.”

In the concluding mares’ bumper Beyond Ambition gained valuable winning brackets for the Harvey family.

Ben Harvey, riding for his grandfather David, led entering the straight on the 15/8 shot and she held the challenge of Walk In The Brise for a length win.

The Kalanisi mare had been second in Grade 3 company at the Punchestown Festival on her last outing and the winning trainer said afterwards: “We thought she deserved that. We’ll sit down now and see where we go with her, we had to get her win first. She has her blacktype early in her career.”

McConnell winner

Clonguile Way powered home on the run-in to land the spoils in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap Chase at Wexford. The John McConnell-trained gelding was last seen falling over the banks course at Punchestown and reverted to chasing. Thomas Reilly’s mount came under pressure running down the hill, in the three-mile, one-furlong contest, but stayed on stoutly to get to the front on run-in to record a three-and-a-half-length victory over Roped In.

“He doesn’t make life easy for you and he never travelled at all, he’s just an out-and-out stayer,” said Reilly. “He was unlucky the last day in the La Touche, he just knuckled at the back of the second last when he was running a big race. Three miles brought the best out of him.”