ON the day he lost his beloved three-time Champion Hurdle hero Istabraq, Win Some Lose Some provided J.P. McManus with a timely success in the Neville Hotels Ladies Handicap Hurdle.
A winner at Kilbeggan in May, the Champs Elysees five-year-old was sent off the 15/8 favourite (from 11/4 early) under Aine O’Connor.
Recovering quickly from a mistake six out, the Padraig Roche-trained bay was short of room on the inner approaching the straight.
Soon coming with his challenge when angled out before the second last, he readily drew clear of his rivals from the final flight and came home four and a half lengths to the good.
“Aine gave him a great ride. She said they went plenty fast, she took her time and just picked up the pieces,” Roche explained.
Nicc does it nicely
Another son of Champs Elysees claimed the opening Wexford Maiden Hurdle, with Lieber Nicc continuing Henry de Bromhead’s rich vein of form.
Taking closer order before four out, Rachael Blackmore’s mount (9/4) got a nice run through on the inner approaching the penultimate obstacle.
In a share of the lead before the last, the Niccolai Schuster Horse Racing Club-owned bay ultimately outstayed the market leader Sunchart (6/4) on the run-in, with a length and a quarter between them at the line.
“He deserved to win one and hopefully he’ll progress now,” said de Bromhead, who was recording his 13th winner of the month.
THERE was a dramatic conclusion to the visitwexford.ie Mares Maiden Hurdle, with Gers Gigi awarded this extended-two-and-a-half-mile contest in the stewards’ room.
The first part of a double for Jack Kennedy, the Downpatrick bumper winner was sent off favourite, but proved easy-to-back late on, drifting from 6/4 to a starting price of 11/4.
In the colours of John Doyle and Dee L’Estrange, the Gordon Elliott-trained chestnut was sent to the front approaching the straight, impeding the challenging Birmingham Alabama when jumping right at the last.
Soon narrowly headed, the market leader was then herself impeded by Birmingham Alabama inside the final 100 yards and ultimately went down by just a nose.
After a lengthy inquiry, the stewards reversed the placings and found Eoin Walsh, rider of the first past the post, guilty of careless riding, suspending him for two days.
Kennedy double
Teaming up with Mark Fahey, Kennedy completed his brace aboard Bigira in the opening division of the Fleadh Cheoil Wexford Handicap Hurdle.
Stepping up to three miles for the first time, the 7/2 chance was never far from the pace and travelled strongly to lead before two out. Ridden approaching the final flight, the North County Syndicate-owned five-year-old found plenty for pressure on the run-in and was a length and a half clear at the line.
“I’m absolutely delighted and we learned today that three miles is obviously her trip,” Fahey said.
Eventful day for Hanlon
Paddy Hanlon, rider of runner-up Tullyveery Lad, was adjudged to have used his whip with excessive frequency and was suspended for seven days, while also ordered to attend RACE for tuition on the correct use of the whip.
Despite that lengthy ban, Hanlon ended the evening on a positive note, teaming-up with his father John ‘Shark’ to take the second division of the Wexford Heritage Trails Handicap Hurdle aboard Grizabella.
A winner on the level when in the care of Jack Davison, the GMW Aintree Ninety Nine Syndicate-owned five-year-old was given a patient ride, making steady headway from five out.
Sweeping to the front before the penultimate obstacle, the 10/1 chance soon skipped a few lengths clear and kept up the gallop all the way to the line, comfortably holding off the late effort of Bella Be Good by three lengths.
“She is very free and I told Paddy to jump out last and go wide for the better ground. He kept her away from everything and that was the winning and losing of the race today,” the successful handler remarked.
Rose in bloom
Owned, trained and bred by Doneraile, Co Cork handler Pat Cronin, the first division of this extended two-mile heat was claimed by Onebrightbluerose.
In first-time blinkers, the Excelebration five-year-old produced a career best performance under amateur rider Andy Burke-Ott.
Prominent from the second, the 10/1 chance gained a slight advantage before three out and increased her lead between the final two flights, eventually leading home Bayou Belle by a length and three-quarters.
“The conditions of the race suited with no winners in it and she only had 10st 9lb on her back. The blinkers probably helped as well,” Cronin said.
THE saffron and blue of Clare was carried with distinction at Croke Park on Sunday last, and further joy befell those proud colours when Safran Et Bleu just prevailed in the second division of the Fleadh Cheoil Wexford Handicap Hurdle.
Owned by the Ennis-based Notions Thirteen Syndicate, the Pat Doyle-trained five-year-old tracked the pacesetters under Evan Dwan and improved into a share of the lead when not fluent two out.
Gaining a narrow advantage before the final flight, the 8/1 chance needed to be ridden out on the run-in, holding off the efforts of Gondor (7/2 favourite) and Dr Val by a head and a neck respectively.
“He toughed it out well and came on the bridle every time he met the nice ground. He wants it quick,” Doyle said.
Local success
There was another tight finish to the concluding Wexford Racecourse Park Run INH Flat Race, with Joecooker triumphant for local connections.
While debutant Jisco Du Brem was sent off the heavily supported 5/6 favourite (from 11/4 early), the successful son of Masked Marvel proved easy-to-back and was returned at 14/1 under Brian Dunleavy.
Toiling on the approach to the straight, the market leader eventually finished a disappointing seventh, with the always prominent Ellen Doyle-trained victor proving game in the closing stages, fending off the late effort of Well Buoy by half a length.
“He had a nice run at Punchestown in a maiden hurdle where he wasn’t beaten far. We’ll see how he comes out of this before deciding what to do next,” owner James Doyle, brother of the successful handler, said.