IDYLLIC weather conditions undoubtedly contributed to a fine turnout at Wexford last Saturday when World Of Fortunes sent many locals home happy with her victory in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race.

Aboard the successful Soldier Of Fortune chesnut for his father Liam, James Kenny was content to track the leaders on the 6/1 scorer.

In a share of the lead from four furlongs out, the Michael Broderick-owned mare was pushed to the front upon entering the straight and soon went clear, coming home six and a half lengths to the good.

“She is a lovely filly and was very unlucky at Tipperary where she was only beaten by a nose,” the winning rider commented.

“She seems to have improved a massive amount from that first run and she brought her homework to the track today. She is an exciting filly and probably deserves a little break before going over hurdles.”

Sent off the well-supported 11/8 favourite, Rhaenyra finished third for Colm Murphy and the Killenagh handler again had to settle for minor honours with Tangental in the Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle.

Ceroc (15/2) made all in this three-mile heat, with the Champs Elysees five-year-old following-up on a recent Cork win.

Not fluent at times, the Edward O’Grady-trained bay was pressed from two out but found plenty for pressure and came home a length and a quarter clear of Ladiam.

“They tried a visor on him for the first time at Cork and it worked,” Phillip Enright, who was aboard the Kay Russell-owned victor, stated.

“He got confidence from that and I said to Edward in Cork that I’d have no problem going three miles with him. He has improved a bit from the last day.”

The easy-to-back Corkbeg (18/1 from 9s early) was given a more patient ride, as he got up close home to deny the front-running Depeche Mo in the Sulzer Wexford Celebrating 50 Years In Business Handicap Hurdle.

Returning from a break, the Harry Kelly-trained six-year-old was settled towards the rear by Denis O’Regan, making good progress on the approach to two out.

Owned and bred by James Rainey, the 88-rated bay kept on strongly from the last, hitting the front inside the final 50 yards before going on to prevail by half a length.

“I think he has come back a bit better and stronger. He was nice and fresh today,” O’Regan remarked.

“He won over two and a half in Clonmel, so we thought two-mile-one was a bit short for him today. Sometimes in Wexford they can go a gallop though and you need a horse that stays.”

Conor Brassil, who rode seventh-place finisher Bite That, was later handed a six-day ban for using the whip with his arm above shoulder height.

Cross one to Watch for the summer

WATCH House Cross came out on top in the six-runner Poolcourt Novice Chase for owners Sunday Racing and the R M Kelleher Partnership.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained six-year-old disappointed in three starts over the larger obstacles last term, but had since won the Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle at Naas before finishing down the field on his most recent start in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

Supported from 4/1 to 11/4, he was settled in second by Darragh O’Keeffe, making a mistake at the fifth. Sent to the front approaching the straight, he found plenty when ridden and kept on well on the run-in to beat Senecia (13/8f) by three and three -quarters lengths.

“He was very good bar that one mistake,” O’Keeffe said. “I schooled him on Thursday and I was looking forward to riding him today. He loved the ground and I’d say it will do his confidence the world of good.”

Cinsa, who also competed at the Cheltenham Festival, was far from convincing when justifying 4/11 favouritism in the opening Wexford Racecourse Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Seventh in the Triumph Hurdle, the Willie Mullins-trained French-bred raced in second under Sean O’Keeffe, improving to lead two out. In the colours of Sullivan Bloodstock Ltd, she needed to be kept up to her work all the way to the line, holding off Young Darleen and Dylan’s Day by half a length and a neck respectively.

“I just wanted to keep it simple enough,” the winning rider revealed. “She got underneath the second last and just had a look then when she hit the front. She idled up to the line but was always doing enough. “She is only a four-year-old and hopefully she will keep improving.”

Goodnightgodbless finally seals a win over fences

“SHE has been frustrating to say the least,” were the words of James Motherway after Goodnightngodbless got off the mark on her 27th try over fences in the Ambrex Switchgear Handicap Chase.

Placed numerous times and twice successful over flights, the J.P. McManus-owned Yeats 10-year-old was sent off a 17/2 chance under 7lb claimer Charlie O’Dwyer.

In an eventful finish to this three-mile-and-one-furlong contest, the bay victor lost a cheekpiece on the run to the second last but soon got to the front.

Despite a slight mistake at the final fence, where both Hardy Bloke and West Breeze unseated, she kept on well to register a 10-length win.

“She stays forever, that’s the one thing she does,” Motherway added. “Races over three-mile-one are hard to find but they suit her down to the ground. She has three won now and I’ll talk to Frank (Berry), but she is in again on Thursday at Limerick.”

Breakthrough

Another daughter of Yeats struck in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Mares Handicap Hurdle, with Fruit Blossom making the breakthrough in first time cheekpieces.

Placed on her last three starts, the Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old went off an easy-to-back 11/2 chance and she was settled in second by Keith Donoghue.

Sent to the front entering the straight, she kept on well away from the last to record a comfortable four-and-a-half length success, after hurdling well throughout.

“She is a grand mare, a good jumper and should give the lads (the Barstool Prophets Syndicate) plenty of fun over the summer,” Donoghue reflected.