MULTIPLE Grade 1 and Grand National-winning rider Daryl Jacob broke new ground last Sunday when he claimed his first success at his local track Wexford, claiming the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase on Gold Cup Bailly.

From just outside Enniscorthy, the UK-based pilot sent the 7/1 chance to the front before two out and he was kept up to his work on the run in, coming home with three and a half lengths to spare from favourite The Folkes Tiara.

The winning rider was donning the double green silks of his employers Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and commented: “It’s nice to come home. I’m from only half an hour down the road. He is a lovely horse and chasing was always going to be his game. It was a pleasing performance and he will be sharper the next day.”

Impressed

Gold Cup Bailly won a point-to-point on debut and so too did Inthepocket, who impressed in the opening Racing Again Tomorrow Maiden Hurdle.

Successful at Moig South for Paul Cashman and now in the care of Henry de Bromhead for J.P. McManus, the Blue Bresil gelding was sent off the well-backed 7/4 favourite (4s early).

Settled in fourth by Rachael Blackmore, he improved to lead shortly after two out and stretched clear on the run-in, coming home six lengths to the good.

“He is a really nice horse and did as much as we could have asked of him on his first day out,” Blackmore remarked. “I had schooled him at home and had been able to keep an eye on him. Hopefully he can build on that performance.”

Sheephaven Flyer, for Blackmore and de Bromhead, failed to make an impact in the Wexford Racing Club Maiden Hurdle, with Ms Agartha Yeats popping up at 50/1 for the What A Combination Syndicate.

On what was her debut, the Hugh Finegan-trained four-year-old raced in mid-division under Sean O’Keeffe, making good progress on the outer approaching the second last.

Soon in a share of the lead, she had a good tussle with fellow outsider Abbeydale (20/1) on the run-in, with just a neck splitting them at the line.

“It wasn’t unexpected. She is a hardy little mare and has done everything we have asked of her at home,” Finegan explained.

“Phelim and Mary (Sheridan) are involved in the syndicate and Mary is a first cousin of mine. They bred her and have the dam who is in foal again.”

Champella toughs it out

CHAMPELLA has done remarkably well in her debut season and she made it three wins from six starts in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle.

Encountering heavy ground for the first time, the Ross O’Sullivan-trained four-year-old was available at 20/1 early (before the defection of stable companion and likely favourite Sea Sessions), eventually going off at just 6/1.

Settled towards the rear by Tom Harney, the chesnut took closer order from four out and improved to join the front-running My Design (7/4f) on the run to the second last.

The pair had a good battle from there, with the Sarsfields Racing Syndicate-owned victor getting on top in the closing stages, prevailing by a length and three-quarters.

“She is tough out and is actually a good-ground mare,” Harney said. “I was worried about the ground and I didn’t think we would be in the winners enclosure. She has had a long season and is going to go home for a break now.”

Ballycashin was another well-supported winner (7/2 to 11/4jf), as she claimed the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race under an enterprising Jody Townend ride.

The Tony Mullins-trained daughter of Flemensfirth ploughed a lone furrow on the inner and was always toward the head of affairs in the colours of Cora Greene and Vera Deegan.

Advantage

She held a definite advantage entering the straight and needed to be kept up to her work inside the final furlong to hold off the effort of newcomer New York Style by a length and a half.

“Jody walked the track and said that she could feel some good ground on the inside. I told her if she wanted to do it, she could do it her way,” Mullins stated.

“I think she is a mare with a future. She is owned by daughters of Bobby McCarthy of Beeches Stud, where Flemensfirth stood, so she is a homebred.”

Loup De Tallane flies home

THERE was a dramatic conclusion to the Slaney View Motors Wexford Handicap Hurdle, with the front-running Doyen Ta Win mugged in the final strides by the well-backed Loup De Tallane (16s early, returned 9/2).

The former, trained by Declan Queally, established a sizable lead from the fifth last but ultimately couldn’t hold on after trading at 1.01 on the exchanges.

A moderate second before two out, the Eoin Griffin-trained victor appeared to have a mountain to climb to peg back the leader, but he did exactly under a strong drive from Gavin Brouder after the last, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat to prevail by a neck.

“My heart was crossways leaving the back straight but we will call it a well-timed run,” Griffin quipped.

“I’m delighted for his owners David Field and Eddie Aylward, as they have stuck with this horse through all of his niggly little problems. It’s great that he repaid them today.”

There was further success for Co Kilkenny-based handlers in the Jim And Kay Whitty Memorial Handicap Chase, with Eoin Doyle’s Optional Mix claiming this feature contest.

Sent off a well-supported 5/4 favourite (from 5/2) after going down by a neck at Limerick the previous Sunday, the six-year-old made all under Jordan Gainford.

Pressed by the patiently ridden Handsworth on the run-in, the Gerry and Christina Hughes owned bay pulled out more when ridden, going on to oblige by half a length.

“I thought she was going to be second again but thankfully she kept at it,” Doyle said. “She is a good tough mare and might be one off a light weight in a good handicap.”