Sunshine Diamond clears the last under Conor McNamara© Photo Healy Racing
First time cheekpieces worked the oracle on Sunshine Diamond as he comfortably accounted for 13-rivals in the Visit Wexford Maiden Hurdle.
Trained in Co Kilkenny by Liam O’Brien, the Notnowcato five-year-old failed to make a significant impact when point-to-pointing, finishing a respectable sixth on his racecourse debut at Punchestown last month.
Available at 33/1 in early shows for this three-mile heat, the George Williams owned gelding came in for plenty of market support, eventually going off a 12/1 chance under Conor McNamara.
Settled in mid-division on the outer, the bay victor took closer order from halfway and improved to dispute the lead after three out.
Pushed along to lead before the next, he was soon ridden clear and came home eight-lengths clear of Marv Michael and Rachael Blackmore.
The runner-up was returned the 5/2 favourite and was just a head in front of Innatendue (11/4) and Alex Harvey in third.
"He ran well the last day but was a little bit green, so we put the cheekpieces on him today to help him concentrate a bit better and to jump a bit better and they obviously worked," O’Brien reflected.
"A lot of the horses he ran against the last day were in this race and we thought that if he got his jumping together that he’d have a right chance.
"He is a proper horse and whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus because he is a chaser in the making. I think he is going to Doncaster now, his owners are sellers. It’s a pity because I’d love to keep him in the yard. His owners are good supporters of the yard and have three of four with us."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Raceday Stewards granted a request from James Andrew Fahey, trainer of Derby De Thaix (FR), for an additional ten minutes to present the horse for identification to an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Official as provided for under the provisions of Rule 90 (i).
The Raceday Stewards granted a request from Tom McGuinness, trainer of Esticky End for an additional ten minutes to present the horse for identification to an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Official as provided for under the provisions of Rule 90 (i).
The Raceday Stewards granted a request from Daniel G. Murphy, trainer of Hakensack for an additional ten minutes to present the horse for identification to an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Official as provided for under the provisions of Rule 90 (i).
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Chosen Thyme trained by Philip Fenton, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be distressed post race.
R. Berry, rider of A Okay trained by J.A.Berry, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount pulled up injured and was subsequently confirmed by an IHRB Veterniary Officer to be injured on the right fore leg post race.
