THE winner of the Boodles at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, Jazzy Matty bounced back to form in the Traynors Of Wexford Beginners Chase over two miles, three and a half furlongs.

Formerly in the care of Gordon Elliott and bought by current connections for €50,000, the Doctor Dino five-year-old failed to make an impact in five starts since his Prestbury Park triumph.

Sent off an easy-to-back 14/1 chance for this eight-runner contest, the Cian Collins-trained chesnut was given a patient ride by Jordan Gainford.

Owned by the Top Man Racing Syndicate, he still had plenty to do approaching the straight, closing on the leaders before being switched to the inner on the run to the final fence.

A half-brother to Delta Work, he was ridden to the front on the run-in and went on to account for Clifftop by a length and a quarter.

“You could say he hasn’t rose a gallop since he won in Cheltenham, he has been very disappointing,” Collins explained.

“We always knew the ability was there, it was just a matter of getting it out of him. Hopefully he will turn into a nice staying chaser next year.”

Too strong

While the Wexford Fleadh Cheoil Opportunity Handicap Chase looked an open affair on paper, General Clermont ultimately proved too strong for his 10 rivals.

Registering a third career success, the Davy Fitzgerald-trained eight-year-old went second approaching the straight and travelled best on the run to the last.

Soon pushed along to lead, the Derek Mara-owned 11/2 chance stretched clear in the closing stages and came home four and three-quarters of a length to the good.

“He is hard to deal with and does everything a little bit on the mad side, but that’s the third time I’ve won on him and hopefully he can build on this,” winning rider Gavin Brouder revealed.

THERE was a thrilling finish to the feature Treo Eile Handicap Chase, with Outside The Door (17/2) snatching victory from the jaws of defeat under Aidan Kelly.

Left a few lengths clear after four of his rivals came to grief five out, the Padraig Roche-trained victor appeared destined for second when headed by Favori Logique on the run to the last.

Rallying under pressure on the run-in, the now dual course and distance victor regained the lead in the closing stages and was a neck in front at the line.

“He jumps and gallops and is as honest as the day is long. A great bunch of lads (the Hold Firm Syndicate) own him and that’s his fifth win now,” Roche enthused.

Roche’s Georgie’s Pearl finished down the field in the concluding Racing Again 9th August Fillies INH Flat Race, with fellow debutant Korinthia coming out on top in this four-year-old contest.

Bred by John O’Connor of Ballylinch Stud, the Willie Mullins-trained victor proved easy-to-back but was still returned favourite at 9/4 (touched 11/10 early).

Travelling strongly approaching the straight, the Killeedy/Listowel Syndicate-owned bay was pushed along to lead over a furlong out and ultimately had two and three-quarters of a length to spare at the line.

“She is by Jukebox Jury and we have an army of them at home. They are not big but they can go,” winning rider Patrick Mullins commented.

“She’s not a winter mare and I’d imagine we will try and get blacktype somewhere, maybe Gowran or Cheltenham.”

Promising efforts

The opening Wexford Fillies Maiden Hurdle was also restricted to four-year-olds, with Burvea building on some promising efforts to claim this extended two-mile heat.

A runner-up at Ballinrobe in April, the David Broad-trained chesnut was sent off at 7/2 in the colours of the Broad Damtree Partnership.

Improving into a share of the lead two out, the Danny Gilligan-ridden victor gained an outright advantage on the run-in and was two and a quarter lengths clear of Hasten Slowly at the line.

On his first ride without a claim, Gilligan said in the aftermath: “I finished second on her in Ballinrobe and I thought she was a different filly today, she has strengthened up and couldn’t have done it any better.”

Kelly and Christie make worthwhile trip

THE long journey from Northern Ireland was made worthwhile for David Christie and Noel Kelly, with both hitting the target.

On just his second start for Christie, the Flor McCarthy-owned Jack Holiday (6/1 from 11s) made all in the racingtv.com Handicap Chase.

Jumping well throughout under Darragh O’Keeffe, the likeable 10-year-old had the field well-strung out from early and kept up the gallop when ridden from the second last, comfortably accounting for his eight rivals by four and three-quarters of a length.

“He surprised us here the last day as we hadn’t him really ready. He had come on a lot for that run and Darragh gave him a very good ride,” Christie reflected.

Kelly’s winner came in the opening division of the Visit Wexford Handicap Hurdle, with Flashthelights (13/2) registering a third career success.

Off the pace

The front runners set a strong gallop from the outset in this extended two-mile contest, with Oran McGill content to settle the eight-year-old victor well off the pace.

Still only fifth approaching the straight, the Red Ned’s Racing Club-owned bay finished with a flourish away from the last, getting up close home to deny the Ken Budds-trained Inchiquin Maid by half-a-length.

“He probably wasn’t in love with the fast pace so I had to bide my time and he fought well to the line,” McGill reported.

Just denied in that opening division, Budds had better fortune in the second division, with his Kate Ill Know ending a long losing streak under John Shinnick.

A winner on debut back in March 2021 when in the care of Denise O’Shea, the now 11-year-old was sent off an easy-to-back 16/1 chance (from 8s).

After a tussle with Granpa Ger (10/3 favourite) in the straight, the John Draddy-owned chestnut pulled out more away from the final flight and saw off the market leader by a length and three-quarters.

“We thought she was keeping a little bit to herself but to be fair she battled it out well today,” Shinnick, who reduced his claim to 5lb, disclosed.