Mercury Lane completes double for Nolan

Mercury Lane completed a double at Wexford for Paul Nolan, as he claimed the www.visitwexford.ie Beginners Chase.

A wide-margin winner over flights at Limerick in March of 2021, the Stowaway gelding had been ultimately disappointing since, with his last five efforts coming over the smaller obstacles.

Back over fences this afternoon, the nine-year-old was sent off a 4/1 chance (from 10s early) under Sean Flanagan.

In rear early on, he gradually improved his position and went second from five out.

Pushed along to challenge the front-running Where It All Began on the approach to the straight, the bay victor was ridden to the front after the second last and kept on well for pressure on the run-in, going on to score by four-and-a-quarter lengths.

Returned the 7/4 favourite, Where It All Began had to settle for second. He appeared held when blundering at the last.

"He has been a frustrating sort of horse, he is a nine-year-old and has been on the go a long time," Nolan, who was early on the mark with Feet Of A Dancer said.

"He was very disappointing jumping, we thought that he'd be an awful lot better over a fence than he was over a hurdle. That wasn't the case and he seemed a bit cowardly, backing off fences and stuff in Navan one day. He just fell out of love with it a little bit.

"Jennifer French rides him at home and she just said in the last two weeks that he seemed to be different, something changed and he just looked better in himself.

"We are just delighted, Brendan (McNicholas) is a good owner and thanks be to God he has won a second race."

STEWARDS REPORT

E. Walsh, rider of Barbary Master (GB), trained by Noel Meade, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount burst a blood vessel and was pulled up. This was subsequently confirmed by the Irish Horseracing Regulatorty Board Veterinary Officer.