LOCAL handlers dominated at this Wexford Foxhounds fixture, with Robert Tector registering the first double of his fledgling career.

The young Rathnure handler struck first with newcomer Jury’s In (4/1 - 3/1), in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Bred by Killian Traynor, the Jukebox Jury bay disputed the lead from flag fall under Jack Hendrick, gaining an outright advantage after the fourth last.

A half-brother to smart chaser Ben Dundee, he skipped clear before the last and had four lengths to spare at the line, with fellow debutants Lecale’s Diamond and Mandinka in second and third respectively.

“He is a big, raw horse and we just gave him plenty of time,” Tector remarked. “Killian Traynor owns half of him with me. He bred him and was a teacher in the Good Counsel College in New Ross when I was there.”

Also carrying his own yellow and brown silks, The Ducks Walk (4/1 – 7/1) completed Tector’s brace in the seven-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders.

Out of a dual winner on the level, this Jet Away bay was providing Sean O’Rourke with his second success in the saddle.

Prominent

Pulled up on debut at Carrigarostig last month, the easy-to-back seven-year-old was always prominent and established an outright lead when ridden before the last.

Despite a slow jump there, he kept on well in the closing stages to hold off the late effort of Erigmoor by a length and a half.

“He just didn’t get into a rhythm the first day. Sean was very good on him today and he might contest a winners’ race now,” Tector, who was also on the mark at Dungarvan the previous afternoon, enthused.

Despite sponsoring the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden, Tector ultimately had to settle for minor honours with Bee’s Kiss.

The John Walsh-trained Where’s Cato (3/1 - 4/1) claimed this nine-runner contest, making the breakthrough on her fifth start under Barry Stone.

Patient ride

Out of a half-sister to 16-time winner Fair Along, the Notnowcato bay was given a patient ride, making good progress to track the leaders with just over a circuit to race.

Getting to the front before three out, the Tom Browne-owned winner was soon ridden and kept on well in the closing stages to hold off the staying on White Noise by a length.

“She’ll probably go to the sales now and someone will get a lot of fun out of her,” Walsh explained.

Lion Rose shows promise

SHARING the honour of staging the first four-year-old maiden of the season with Bellharbour, Wexford handlers were responsible for all nine runners in the opener.

Adding his name to an illustrious roll of honour, Mark Scallan’s Lion Rose Sivola (4/1 -3/1) came out on top under Declan Lavery.

A half-brother to a six-time winner in France, this striking grey came with his challenge before three out and led after the next.

Making a slight mistake at the last, he then received a hefty bump from eventual runner-up Saint Invictus, with a length and a half separating them at the line.

Big run

“It was our first four-year-old runner of the season so we didn’t really know where we stood, but on his homework we were expecting a big run,” Scallan, who trains the winner for his wife Laura, revealed.

“My cousin Alan Crosbie picked him up in France. He was withdrawn from a sale at Arqana and I think he emailed the owners. That’s how he ended up here. He’ll head back to the sales now.”

The well-backed Tales Of Bravery (3/1 - 1/1 favourite) is also sales bound after his impressive success in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

A brother to promising hurdler Bluey, the Eamonn Doyle-trained €50,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale graduate did well to survive a bad mistake three fences from the finish.

Ridden in second before the last, he quickened up smartly under Jamie Scallan and soon took over from fellow debutant One For Rian, stretching clear in the closing stages to score by six-lengths.

“He probably did a lot wrong. He didn’t jump perfectly and was very lucky at the third last, but I’d say he is above average to do what he did,” Scallan, who was sporting the silks of the Mossy Fen Stables Partnership, disclosed.

Double up

The Tomhaggard pilot later doubled up aboard Between Waters (1/2 – 4/6 favourite) for Doyle’s brother Sean (owner and trainer) in the concluding winners’ race.

Just nine fences were jumped in this five-runner heat, with the two down the back straight omitted on all circuits due to the low-lying sun.

Already twice successful this season, the Walk In The Park seven-year-old led narrowly from three out and went on before the last, ultimately easing to a 13-length win.

“She is a very classy mare and should win plenty of races,” Scallan later reflected.

PROVIDING 18-year-old Matt Gahan with his first success, The Coffey Boy (2/1 - 10/3) led home his rivals in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Previously in the care of Jimmy Kelly and now with Mick Goff, the Libertarian bay finished a solid fifth on his debut at Lingstown in March of last year.

Tracking the leaders in this six-runner contest, he was slightly hampered by the fall of odds-on favourite William Tell three fences from the finish.

Left second as a result, he was ridden to lead after the next, keeping on well from there to beat Redbridge Rocco by three-lengths.

“He is a lovely horse and was galloping well at home,” Goff, who trains the winner for his wife Caitriona, commented.

“It’s great for Matt, he is from Boolavogue and left school last year. He is full-time with us and is a good chap.”

White Noise (Sean Thomas Doyle): Not helped by a mistake at the sixth, this Kingston Hill five-year-old responded well to urgings from the saddle in the straight, ultimately finishing a never nearer second.

Likely to come on plenty for this initial experience, it’ll come as no surprise if she manages to go a place better on her next start.