Lee eyes Galway for in-form Sole Pretender

Sole Pretender made it two from two this campaign with a comfortable success in the Coast Hotels & Resorts Rated Hurdle at Wexford.

Jack Kennedy sent him on from Three Stars at the fourth last and he travelled strongly to move clear after the penultimate flight.

A good jump at the last sealed the deal by seven and a half lengths to reward favourite backers at 11/8. He was well backed throughout the day. Kingston Girl picked up second prize at 11/1 from 16/1 with Oscars Den in third at 12/1.

Trainer Norman Lee said: "He is progressing away nicely and taking every step at a time. We are very pleased with him.

"He will get 10 days off now and he'll do a bit of swimming and we'll bring him to the beach.

"He'll go back to Ballinrobe at the end of next month for a 50,000 euro race (the McHale Mayo Hurdle). All going well that is where he will go.

"He is doing his job well. We might bring him to Galway and he could run on the flat too. He seems to have enough gears for the flat.

"It's great for his owner Michael Hogan to have a good, solid horse like him."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy