PAUL Nolan bagged a first-and-last-race double at his local track, Wexford, on Thursday.

The Enniscorthy handler was quick off the mark in the opening mares’ maiden hurdle when Kiltealy Park ran out a game winner.

Sean Flanagan produced the Walk In The Park mare to lead narrowly at the second last and, after a slight error there, she dug deep in the closing stages to see off Grooveykindoflove by half a length.

Nolan said of the 15/2 winner, owned by the Browne Bros partnership: “She was a bit unlucky at Punchestown first time out when she made a mistake at the third last. It didn’t work out a fantastic race and she didn’t handle the ground at Clonmel, she was beaten after a circuit.

“Today the better ground suited and they seemed to go a nice gallop the whole way. We’ll keep her in for the summer.

“She’s won a maiden hurdle now anyway and she’s going the right way.”

Bumper victory

There was chat about plenty of the runners in the concluding bumper and it was another point-to-point recruit who landed the spoils for Nolan.

Farfromnowhere was held up in the two-miler by Jack Hendrick before coming with a strong surge in the straight. David Flynn’s Shirocco mare, a 9/1 shot, led over a furlong out and held Amanha by a neck late on.

There was a stewards’ inquiry with the winner drifting left late on and causing some interference to the third and fourth horses. The result remained unaltered.

“We think she’s a good mare. She had to come wide and I’d say it was a good bumper,” said Nolan.

“She was recommended to us by Colin Bowe and won her point-to-point well, even though it was only a four-runner race.

“She’s a great mare to jump. We’ll see what is coming up but we won’t run her on too fast ground.

“We’ll treat her like she’s good until she proves us wrong.”

SHADOW Rider made a successful return to chasing when emerging victorious after a cracking finish to the feature Veterans Handicap Chase.

The Padraig Roche-trained gelding didn’t jump particularly well early on in the two-mile-three-furlong contest but was smuggled into the race by jockey Aidan Kelly.

J. P. McManus’ gelding was produced with a strong run in the closing stages to get up for a neck success over the front-running Cavalry Master.

“Aidan said he was a bit sticky and he gave him a great ride in fairness to him,” said Roche.

“He gave him a great hunt around and his bit of class got him home after all his errors.

“That’s probably as quick as he wants the ground. I’ll talk to Frank and J.P. and see what they say, but for a 10-year-old he’s had a good year.”

Fen nursed back

It had been a long time between drinks for Mossy Fen before his victory in the Treo Eile Handicap Hurdle.

The Milan gelding had last been in winning action at Warwick in 2020 and trainer Mark Molloy was delighted to welcome him back into the winner’s enclosure.

Liam Quinlan held his mount up before producing the 13/2 shot to lead two from home. He then held the late charge of Tranquil Sea to secure a half-length win.

“He’d obviously been through a few academies and then he came to us,” said Molloy.

“We’ve just played with him, freshened him up and he’s come back to himself – he wouldn’t have run if he hadn’t.

“He seems to be back enjoying life so we’ll take it step by step. He’s a lovely character of a horse. Hopefully we’ll go back chasing and have a bit of fun with him.”

Mighty Magee

In the other three-mile hurdle on the card Sam Magee ran out a convincing winner for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore.

Roger Brookhouse’s gelding came to lead at the penultimate flight and asserted on the run-in to score by seven lengths from Givehimthehonour.

“I’m delighted for Roger. Rachael was good on him,” said de Bromhead of the 6/4 joint-favourite.

“It’s taken time but he’s really coming to himself now. It’s his first run back from a break and I’m happy with him. I’d say we’ll be looking for a fence fairly soon.”

THE admirable Doyen Ta Win added a win over fences to her CV with a typically dashing front-running performance in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase.

Kevin Sexton went clear from the third fence on the 15/2 shot and she had her rivals in trouble running down the hill for the final time.

The Declan Queally-trained mare galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a 32-length win.

Brandy Love had gone to post a 1/3 shot in the two-mile-three-furlong contest, but after some sketchy jumping she took a heavy fall at the last second. Thankfully she walked away from her spill.

“She likes it here, she likes going left-handed,” said Queally. “It’s great to pick up another bonus.

“She’s going to be covered by Arctic Cosmos and when she’s in foal she’ll run away for the summer. That’ll be it then, she’s done her job.”

In fine Voice

In the preceding Irish Injured Jockeys Beginners Chase, Bocelli’s Voice also won on his second outing over fences.

The Dermot McLoughlin-trained gelding was produced to lead after the last, by Ben Harvey, and stuck his neck out late on to secure a three-quarter length victory over Clear The Clouds.

Harvey, wearing the colours of owner Con Smyth, said afterwards: “I was just beaten on him in a point-to-point and it’s nice to get back on him.

“We always thought he’d be a better chaser and he jumped brilliant. Dermot had him well prepared and does a great job schooling his horses.

“I wouldn’t be afraid to go up in trip again with him, I still think he’d be better over two and a half miles.”