MAGNOR Glory was one of five easy winners on rain-softened ground at Wexford, with the Terence O’Brien trained five-year-old landing a sizeable gamble in the first division of the Neville Hotels Handicap Hurdle.

Available at 22/1 in early shows, the Fame And Glory bay eventually went off the 7/2 favourite and he was settled in mid-division by Mikey Hamill.

A much closer second before four out, he led after the next and soon went clear, coming home 16 lengths to the good despite an awkward jump at the last.

It was a poignant success for connections after the recent death of part-owner Barry Walsh.

“This is the first horse Barry had with me and it was great that he was able to win today for his family and Joe Sheahan (part-owner and breeder),” O’Brien explained. “Barry was a cattle dealer and a very well-known man. I’d say half the country backed him!

“He has been a very difficult horse to train. The hard work early on has paid off with him now. He did that very well and I’m delighted.”

Doin well

Wat Ua Doin was a clear-cut winner of the opening Wexford Racecourse Mares Maiden Hurdle, with this five-year-old also well-supported (13/2 early, returned 5/2).

Previously trained by Vincent Ward and making her debut for Matthew Smith, the Dylan Thomas bay made virtually all.

Pushed along and clear before two out, a sloppy jump at the final flight didn’t stop her momentum, as she came home with 15 lengths to spare in the colours of the Grand Cru Edition Syndicate.

Winning rider Keith Donoghue said: “I ride a lot of work for Matthew and she had been working well so we fancied her. I don’t know how strong of a race it was but she gave me a nice feel.”

A Diamond for the Blue Bloods

PATRICK Mullins was impressed by Ashroe Diamond who blitzed her rivals in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race.

Well-fancied to oblige on her racecourse debut, the Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old was sent off the clear 10/11 favourite in the colours of the Blue Blood Racing Club.

She breezed through to lead on entering the straight and sprinted clear inside the final furlong, with 14 lengths the winning margin.

“That was very impressive and that’s what she has been showing us at home. I couldn’t pull her up,” the winning rider enthused.

“She’s got plenty of gears and could go on the flat if we wanted. It’s great to know that she handles soft ground as well.”

Bold Enough was yet another facile winner, as he readily accounted for his five opponents in the Think Print And Design Wexford Novice Chase.

With his main market rival, Gold Des Bois, withdrawn due to the going, the Henry de Bromhead-trained victor was sent off the 1/2 favourite in the colours of Mustafa Elatrash.

Settled just off the pace, the six-year-old made a mistake at the first and eased to the front approaching the straight, going on to score by eight lengths under Mark Walsh.

“It was fairly straightforward. The mistake at the first crowned him because he jumped well after that.

“He’s done it well and is a nice horse for chasing,” Walsh reported.

Dermot McLoughlin saddled three of the 11 for the Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle, with his Thunderosa coming out on top under 7lb claimer Paddy O’Hanlon.

The progressive son of Westerner, who was recording his third win from his last four starts, was sent off an easy to back 11/1 chance for owner Fidelma Toole.

Sent to the front on the approach to the straight, the nine-year-old kept on well when ridden away from the last, coming home three and a half lengths clear of Whatucallher and French rider Nicolas Terrassin.

Mud slog

“He has won on soft and good ground but, being by Westerner, he likes to slog it out,” McLoughlin revealed. “I think he is saving a bit. Paddy said that when he hit the front he pricked his ears.

“He is a grand horse and he’ll mix it but it will depend on the ground.”

McLoughlin also saddled the 11/4 favourite Lord Lariat, who finished fifth, and he added: “We don’t have him that long and Keith (Donoghue) said he just wasn’t mad about the ground.”

Stealthy Tom stays on strong for hurdles success

STEALTHY Tom was the first part of a double for Darragh O’Keeffe, as the Enda Bolger-trained six-year-old claimed the second division of the Neville Hotels Handicap Hurdle.

A half-brother to Gilgamboa, the Anne Marie McManus-owned bay was returned a well-backed 11/4 favourite, from early shows of 6/1. Having raced mainly in second, he was pushed along to lead before two out and had to be kept up to his work on the run-in to hold off the renewed effort of the front-running Strong Roots by two lengths.

Bolger stated: “We were just a bit worried about the ground but he handled it well and kept off the bad ground. He didn’t inherit Gilgamboa’s ability but he jumps well.”

O’Keeffe double

O’Keeffe doubled his tally on Ah Littleluck (11/1) in the Good Enuf To Eat Banqueting Handicap Chase, with just four of the 12 that set out for this three-mile, one-furlong contest managing to complete.

Trained by Tom Gibney, the 11-year-old victor was engaged in a battle with Wrong Direction (10/3 favourite) from three out. He jumped left and hampered his rival at the next, but soon gained the upper hand and kept on strongly from the last, coming home 19 lengths clear. Gibney remarked. “I’m delighted for his owner (Kevin Haigney) who is a good friend of mine. He is nearly a travelling head man at this stage as he does so much at home.”

Ah Littleluck was bred in The Beeches Stud, Co Waterford by the McCarthy family and so too was An Fraoch Mor, winner of the most valuable race on the programme, the Shamrock Enterprises Ltd Rated Hurdle. A winner of two races in 2019, the Ross O’Sullivan-trained gelding had been disappointing of late, but still came in for some market support, going off a 7/1 chance from earlier shows of 20/1. After attempting to make all under Cathal Landers, he was headed by Due Reward before two out. He battled back gamely to lead on the run-in, winning by a neck in the colours of Tommy Ward.

Jockey suspensions

CATHAL Landers picked up a three-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency on An Fraoch Mor. Darragh O’Keeffe was found guilty of careless riding on Ah Littleluck and got a two-day ban. Kevin Brouder picked up a day ban for continuing on Super Citizen when his mount appeared very tired on the approach to two out, where he fell.