First winner for Collins on Poetic Lord

Jockey Cian Collins rode his first winner on Poetic Lord (8/1) at Wexford in the two and a quarter mile maiden hurdle for trainer Sandra Hughes.

The six-year-old gelding travelled well in mid-division before improving to race on the outer of leader Credulous approaching the home turn.

Swinging in and Poetic Lord was on terms with Credulous. At the second last Credulous made a mistake and Poetic Lord got the run on him to lead at the last by a couple of lengths. Teoleena (6/4f) closed after the final hurdle and gave chase on the run-in but couldn't quite reel in Poetic Lord and went down by half a length.

Cian Collins said: "I'm from Tralee in Kerry. I'm living with Bryan Cooper and Robbie McNamara and we are all thinking of Robbie now. We wish him a speedy recovery. They are brilliant, they help me the whole time.

"I've had two rides for Sandra (Hughes) and one for Tom Cooper. Sandra has been very good to me giving me chances. I'm delighted. I've been with Sandra eight months.

"I had one ride as an amateur in Fairyhouse two and a half weeks ago and I had another ride in Limerick last week for Tom Cooper and this is my third ride now.

"Poetic Lord had been going well at home. He's in good form so I thought he would have a good chance today. He jumped very well and travelled into the race very well and I knew coming down the hill that I had a good chance and he picked up all the way to the line.

"I knew I was going to get past Credulous and it helped me a lot when he stepped at the second last. He'll come on a nice bit from that."

Sandra Hughes said: "He came from the flat in the UK where he had done a lot of racing. He never really got a break and he just went hurdling straight away. We gave him a good break over the winter and he has been very sweet at home so I was hoping he'd give Cian his first winner.

"Cian was having his third ride today and he is based with me. He is 17."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy