THE Jonathan Fogarty-trained Flaubert (6/1 – 7/1) was undoubtedly the most impressive winner on a fine afternoon in the beautiful surrounds of Stradbally Hall.

Pulled up on debut at Damma House in November, the Flemensfirth bay was a different proposition under Conor Moore in the opening five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Out of Madam Bovary, who won a Grade A contest at the Punchestown Festival in 2013, he led from the third and readily increased his advantage on the final circuit, coming home 18 lengths to the good for the Gaynestown Stud Partnership.

“This is my first weekend back riding. I was in a car accident in January and I’ve been out since then. It’s nice to get back with a winner before the season finishes,” the winning rider remarked.

Fogarty, who was recording his fourth winner of the campaign, added: “I’m delighted with that. He pulled up the first day but has strengthened up since and won impressively today. He’ll head to the sales now.”

There was further Wexford success in the winners’ of two, with John Paul Brennan’s Ivegotdapower (5/2 – 9/4) following-up on his recent Dromahane victory.

The progressive Imperial Monarch five-year-old made all under James Walsh and despite briefly looking vulnerable away from the last, he picked up again in the closing stages to see off Pour Me A Double by a length-and-a-half.

“James said he was just idling out in front and when he heard the other horses, he picked up again,” Brennan, who trains the winner for Connie Rooney, revealed.

“He was a fairly weak horse and I probably over raced him a bit. He is getting stronger now and is starting to fill out.

“He’ll go to Doncaster now for the sales. They are on the 24th and 25th of this month and I’m 50 on the 25th so I’ll be celebrating it over there!”

Tribal Glory (3/1 – 5/1) is also sales bound after he claimed the adjacent maiden on debut.

Given a patient ride by Luke Murphy, he took closer order with a circuit to race and kept on best to head the always prominent Minella Storytime on the run-in, with a length and a half between them at the line.

Out of a half-sister to seven-time track winner Dare Me, the Mahler chestnut was bought as a foal by Gearoid Connaughton for €6,000 at Goffs in 2018.

“He is a lovely horse, very straightforward, and I’ve always liked him,” Ian McCarthy, who trains the winner for his wife Nicki, commented.

“He’ll head to the sales now and he loves a bit of nice ground, that’s why we waited until now with him.”

Rooney gets away from his rivals

JUST three of the five who set out for the mares’ open managed to complete the course, with Getawayrooney (2/1 – 9/4) ultimately running out a decisive winner in the colours of owner/breeder Michael O’Neill.

Off the track for two years after completing a hat-trick in 2020, the Jason O’Reilly-trained nine-year-old returned to action in November and was successful at Ballyvodock in January.

Sent straight to the front by Adam Feeney, she made virtually all and looked to have the measure of Gold Creek when that one blundered badly and unseated at the last.

It was a welcome change of luck for O’Reilly, who explained: “They have all been knocking on the door lately and I had one unseat at the final fence last weekend when she looked like she was going to win.

“I had a young fella with me last weekend and he got a kick from a horse in the parade ring which shattered his jaw. It’s nice to get a winner after that misfortune.”

The Kinsale handler added: “It helped when the favourite [Side Show] unseated early.

“She might go for a hunter chase at Listowel now in a few weeks’ time.”

Trixie puts ‘Tuff Days’ behind him

A return to the track is also on the cards for Tuff Days, after he did the needful in the concluding six-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders.

Having filled the runners-up spot on his last two starts, the Trixie Barry-trained chestnut was sent off a well-supported favourite (5/2 – evens favourite) in the colours of Barry’s wife Mary Hayes.

Never far from the pace under Cal Shine, the chesnut son of Ask needed to be ridden out on the run-in to see off the game effort of Knockiel Synge, with two lengths between them at the line.

“He likes this ground and that’s the key to him. Even faster ground wouldn’t bother him,” Barry divulged.

“He might go for a winners’ race at Clonakilty next weekend.

“He also has a mark over hurdles on the track and he could also go that route as well. I think he could win off his mark.”

Chitchat is finally over for Sally

CHITCHAT Sally (6/1) was the first part of a successful half hour for the O’Keeffe family, as she finally made the breakthrough in the six-year-old and upward mares’ maiden.

Trained and ridden by Conor O’Keeffe and owned by his father Jim, the El Salvador seven-year-old had finished in the first three on nine of her previous 24 starts.

Less than five lengths separated the first six home in this eight-runner affair, with the bay victor staying on best away from the last, coming home two-and-a-half lengths to the good.

“That’s my second winner and I only have her in training at the moment. I only ride a couple of our own and I farm at home as well,” the winning rider, who is based in Taghmon, Co Wexford, stated.

“She stayed on well today and I think she really appreciated the nicer ground.”

O’Keeffe’s brother Sean later claimed the Killarney National aboard Pont Aval for Willie Mullins

Horse to Follow

Minella Storytime: (J. Nallen): A €30,000 purchase as a foal, this Shantou five-year-old went down by just a length and a half and he appears to be progressing with each run. Closely related to a whole host of winners, he can make his presence felt on the track and might be suited by a drop in trip.