THE Bree Foxhounds staged the final fixture in Co Wexford this season, with spring sunshine undoubtedly contributing to the large crowd in attendance.

Making the journey south from his Downpatrick base, Pat Turley registered a notable double, combining with Declan Lavery to take both divides of the four-year-old mares’ maiden.

The pair struck first with A Chara (6/4 – 3/1), who was left in front after both Everyday Life and Red Wine Supernova crashed out at the penultimate obstacle, with the winner, who was close in a disputing third at the time, eventually going on to beat Gaelic Heather by four and a half lengths.

“She ran a cracker the first day when third against geldings,” Lavery commented. “While two came down at the second last, I felt like I had them covered. She’s a lovely filly and hopefully she’ll be alright tomorrow and head on to the sales.”

Maid secures the double

A Chara carries the colours of Turley’s wife Mary and so too does She’s A Fair Maid (2/1 – 3/1), the winner of the second divide.

A £45,000 Goffs Spring Store Sale purchase, this Crystal Ocean bay raced in a share of the lead with Sunset Vista, gaining an outright advantage before two out.

Slow over the last, she needed to be kept up to her work on the run-in to hold off her aforementioned rival, with three-quarters of a length between them at the line.

There were again two casualties at the penultimate fence, with this obstacle subsequently omitted for the remainder of the day due to safety concerns.

“She is a lovely filly and, bringing the two of them down today, we thought they’d both win,” Lavery reflected.

“She’s a bit different to the other filly, in that she’d stay far better. She is probably a long-term filly, whereas the other filly is a bit sharper.”

SOUND Judgement (3/1) completed a double for Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill, accounting for nine rivals in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

One of three debutants in the line-up, this Milestone Bloodstock Ltd-owned chesnut soon raced in mid-division and was fourth from two out.

Ridden to lead on the run to the final fence, she soon skipped clear and, despite a slight mistake at the last, was six lengths to the good crossing the line.

“She was as game as a pebble today and looks a good buy now, as we got her for €15,000,” Bowe disclosed.

It was difficult to be anything but impressed by Bowe’s initial victor, Lemmy Caution (5/2 – 7/4 favourite) in the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Headway

Making smooth headway from halfway, the Walter Connors-owned grey assumed command entering the straight and readily increased his advantage before the final fence, eventually easing to an eight-length win.

“He is a big, good-looking horse and is by a nice stallion in Tunis. He is one of our better four-year-olds this season and is for sale,” Bowe enthused.

A field of 11 also faced the starter in the first divide, with Hernando De Soto (5/2 – 4/1) proving far superior. The first foal out of an unraced dam and bought for €90,000 at the Goffs Arkle Sale, this Affinisea bay raced in mid-division under Troy Walsh, making good progress from four out.

Improving into second approaching the straight, he was pushed along to lead on the run to the final fence, with eight and a half lengths to spare at the line.

“Troy brought us a bit of luck anyway, and he did everything right,” Ellmarie Holden, who trains the winner for her father Paul, remarked.

“He is a very straightforward horse and does everything easy at home.”

THE Bishopscourt Cup is now firmly on the agenda for Gale Force Jet (3/1 – 4/1), after he completed a double for Sean Doyle in the winners of two for novice riders.

Registering his third success of the campaign, the Henry Chamney-owned six-year-old got to the front before the last and eased to a 12-length win in the hands of Cormac Byrne.

“He probably just wasn’t right the last day and the track at Belclare might have been too sharp for him,” Doyle reported. “We won the Bishopscourt Cup for Henry last year (Private Ryan) and this fella will probably go there now.”

Doyle’s double

Doyle had earlier struck with Ignore The Door (4/1 – 7/1) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, with this €55,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale graduate carrying the colours of his brother Gearoid.

Turned out quickly after finishing fourth at Lisronagh the previous weekend, the Walk In The Park bay raced in a share of the lead from flag fall.

Pushed along after two out and gaining an outright advantage when ridden before the last, he kept on well in the closing stages to hold off the effort of Gone Country by three lengths.

“He enjoyed being out in front today and he jumps for sport. He was so good over the last that he nearly unseated me!” winning rider, Darragh Higgins said.

Another Doyle brother got in on the act in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, with Donnchadh’s Jetbob (5/2 – 4/1) taking this 11-runner heat under Rob James.

Second on debut at Knockanard last month, the Monbeg Syndicate-owned six-year-old was four lengths clear approaching the final fence, but was all out on the run-in to hold off the renewed effort of Occupational Force by three-quarters of a length. “He got into a lovely rhythm today and he’ll probably go for a winner of one now,” Doyle revealed.

Horse to Follow

Gone Country (D. O’Connor): A €43,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase, this Vadamos bay was short of room on the inner when making progress after the second last. Subsequently losing his position, he came with a renewed effort before the final fence, but ultimately couldn’t reel in Ignore The Door and was three lengths adrift at the line.