West Cork Wildway and Darragh O'Keeffe© Photo Healy Racing
With a first time tongue-strap fitted and back off a 63 day break West Cork Wildway justified 7/2 favouritism in the Boomerang.ie Handicap Hurdle at Thurles.
Following winning jockey Darragh O’Keeffe in December has been a very profitable exercise and the Cork man was adding to pre-Christmas successes achieved on Sayce Gold (7/4), Razzle Dazzle Love (8/1), Chatham Street Lad (16/1) and Stoughan Cross (40/1).
Paul O’Flynn has care of West Cork Wildway for the Fernhill Tower Syndicate. The six-year-old was here supplementing two point-to-point, a bumper and maiden hurdle wins.
Taken in from double figure quotes earlier, West Cork Wildway was pushed all the way to the line as he ultimately beat Saint D’oroux by three parts of a length.
"I shouldn't have run him the last day in Mallow as the ground was too good for him but you live and learn and it was nice to get another win up before Christmas," said O'Flynn.
"The trip is a small bit short for him but once they have ability they'll always show it. He is versatile and stays three miles and is a lovely horse for the lads and is improving.
"He is not the biggest horse but is unbelievable to jump and I'll be looking forward to him when he jumps a fence. When he goes over fences you'll see the real deal."
Owing to the low elevation of the sun, the Stewards granted permission for hurdle #3 (third last) to be omitted from this race
K.C. Sexton, rider of Turbo trained by J.R.Finn, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled during this race and did not move fluently.
(TW & EM)
