Favourite Son looks a horse to keep on the right side of after the Edward O'Grady-trained gelding ran out an easy winner of the Chadwicks Hurdle at Wexford yesterday evening. Barry Geraghty produced the son of Linamix to challenge Caishill at the last before going on to win by two lengths with Be On Time a further half-length behind in third. The 1/2 shot is now likely to head to Galway.
Another Galway-bound horse is Family Affair, who took the second division of the Mares Maiden Hurdle under Kevin Power for trainer Michael Phillips. The 100/30 chance led at the second last before sprinting clear in the straight to defeat the favourite Mondeed by fifteen lengths.
'She's won well and has kept improving. She likes that ground and comes back sound from it every time, hopefully she'll be okay in the morning,' said Phillips.
Pat Fahy and John Cullen teamed up to take the other division of the Mares Maiden Hurdle when Tribal Princess came home fifteen lengths clear of Faero Isle. The 4/1 chance went to the front approaching the second last and looked to be holding the favourite Back To Gales when that one broke a leg after a terrible mistake at the final obstacle. Pat Brennan was thankfully discharged from hospital after a nasty fall from Give Her A Chance.
Elsewhere, Gone No More and Peter Fahey put up a bold front-running performance to take the first division of the Smirnoff Handicap Hurdle. The 8/1 chance saw off a host of challenges after the second last before holding the late charge of Adiysha by a length. The disappointing favourite, Safach Dan, was found to be post-race lame.
'He's been around a long time but the ground and the cheek pieces did the trick this evening,' said Jarlath Fahey, who has only held a public licence for the last three weeks.
Phillip Rothwell has his team in great form at the moment and Erins Emblem gave him another winner when taking the second division of the Smirnoff Handicap Hurdle. Jockey Alan Donoghue faced an anxious wait on his return to weigh room, as he appeared to lose a piece of equipment on the run to the last. However, the weight differential was only .3 of a lb so Erins Emblem (11/2) kept the race.
Major Burns was an impressive winner of the first division of the Bumper when making all the running under James Nash. The 11/10 chance stretched clear on the approach to the straight and had 13 lengths to spare over Pigeon Rock with Share Deep four lengths back in third.
'He did that well, he's come on a lot for his last run and the trip and the ground were a big help. He'll go to Galway for a winners bumper or a hurdle,' said Mullins.
