FEET Of A Dancer maintained her perfect record at Wexford on Wednesday when making it three from three at the south-east track.

The Paul Nolan-trained mare went to post 11/4 favourite in the opening rated hurdle on her return from a short break.

Sean O’Keeffe produced his mount to dispute turning for home and she asserted after the second last, before holding Dark Note late on by three-quarters of a length.

“She’s a little mare we think a lot of,” said Nolan of Philip Byrne’s mare. “She handles that sort of ground so I wouldn’t like to risk her on too quick ground but she’s a versatile little lady.

“Possibly the further up in trip she goes the better she’ll be. I think that she’ll stay well as she’s by Authorized.

“She got a little bit of a setback after Leopardstown the last day so we decided when she got over that we’d bring her back to try and win again with her. She’s done that so we’ll make a plan now.”

The Gavin Cromwell-trained Antrim Coast is another horse with a future after a game win in the Irish Injured Jockeys Hurdle.

With a future

Keith Donoghue tracked the leaders on the 5/6 favourite but he came under pressure turning for home in the three-miler.

Basil Holian’s gelding knuckled down well on the run-in to get up and beat Oscars Brother by a neck close home.

Donoghue said: “He was tough. I like this horse a lot and I didn’t think I’d have to work as hard as that for it.

“I was glad that he did battle, he could have thrown in the towel after the second last but he stuck his head down and he galloped well to the line. He is going to be a real staying chaser and I’d say he just got caught for that little bit of toe on dead ground. I’d say he could stay going, maybe Galway for a beginners’ (chase).”

Hurling hits it home in bumper

THE market spoke loudly in favour of Lovely Hurling in the bumper and the Colm Murphy-trained gelding ran out a comfortable winner.

John Gleeson settled the 6/5 favourite towards the rear in the two-and-a-half mile contest and the J.P. McManus-owned gelding travelled easily to chase the leader into the straight.

He was slightly green when hitting the front over a furlong out but soon asserted to post a five-length success over Laravie. Gleeson said: “It was a nice performance and he gave me a nice feel, he’s a fine big horse.

“It’s riding a bit dead and we went a nice gallop on the ground. Please God he’ll be a nice horse for the autumn.”

Flicker Of Hope is developing into a nice horse himself and recorded back-to-back wins when taking the three-mile handicap hurdle on the card.

The Mark Fahey-trained gelding made his move turning for home, under Aidan Kelly, and led after the second last.

He grabbed the lead after the second last and the 7/2 joint-favourite always looked in control afterwards as he beat Mahler Appeal by two lengths.

“He was good again, going up from two and a half miles to three miles,” said Fahey of the Swords Bloodstock-owned gelding. “He barely got there again and he’s a nice horse to look forward to. We’ll keep him going as he’s probably a summer horse, he’s probably not good enough to run over the winter. We’ll just try and pick a race with a bit of ease over the summer.”

THE Brendan Walsh-trained Toon Town opened his account back at Wexford when claiming the first division of the two-mile-one-furlong handicap hurdle.

Darragh O’Keefe’s mount travelled well turning for home and led over the last to beat the consistent Tingarran Express by a length.

Walsh said of the 10/3 winner: “He ran here only 11 days ago and we were just a little bit worried about that.

“The ground was a bit better today and it helped him, the ground the last day just caught him out I’d say.

“It’s nice for the (Teergay) syndicate who are from Macroom, they have been patient with him.”

The second division also produced a good finish with Future Proof getting home by a neck from Johnny Clark.

Philip Rothwell’s charge travelled well to lead turning for home and the 11/1 shot kept on well close home for Paddy O’Hanlon to hold his rival.

“He was a fun horse that we kept for one of the girls in the yard to ride in a charity race at Punchestown,” said Rothwell.

“He’s a great old school master, a lovely horse and very easy to do anything with. He’s one that we’re going to sell and it’s brilliant that he’s come and won for us today.

“This year what we’re trying to do is to keep moving the lower grade handicappers. I’m limited to 60 stables and we’re going to try and build a better team, slowly but surely.”

Spur defies absence

The Flying Spur defied a long absence when making a winning return from 526 days on the sidelines in the Boylesports Maiden Hurdle.

Ricky Doyle held his mount up in the two-and-a-half mile contest before coming to challenge turning for home.

Martin’s Brassil’s gelding claimed Slim Marvel over the last to record a cosy two-length win at odds of 10/1.

“He’s a horse that cost a lot of money as a store and he ended up with a few problems,” said Brassil.

“We gave him as much time as possible and I thought this would be a starting point for him, I’m kind of surprised that he did what he did.

“It’s great to see him back on a racecourse and being able to do something after what he went through.”