County Final proved in a different league to his rivals at Wexford today, opening the scoring for a 136/1 hat-trick of wins for jockey Paul Carberry, in the Slaney Horse Feeds Maiden Hurdle.
Noel Meade's gelding made virtually all, while Carberry barely had to shake the reins on the 1/2 favourite.
County Final's owner, J.P. McManus, was represented by his racing manager Frank Berry, who reported 'it's grand to get that out of the way and he'll run in a winners race before Christmas next.'
Carberry completed a double in the next, the Londis Killeens Service Station Handicap Hurdle, on Steve Mahon's Aghadoe Heights (16/1 and 48/1 on the Tote).
The winner raced in mid division before progressing to lead after the second last, responding well to win by two lengths.
A lame Mahon later mentioned 'Aghadoe Heights kicked me on my right leg yesterday when we were clipping him so it's worth it that he won here!'
Carberry's treble was completed when again combining with Noel Meade on Zum See, winner of the Casey Enterprise Beginners Chase.
Carberry was at his best on Zum See, coming from a near impossible distant seventh position at the third last before making steady progress to lead after the last, for an eventual 4 1/2l win.
Trainer Edward O'Grady and jockey Barry Geraghty also recorded a double, highlighted by Coast to Coast's battling win in the feature race, the Wexford Racecourse Supporters Club Chase.
The five runner event developed into an exciting contest with Coast To Coast looking booked for third spot at the second last.
Randwick Roar tied up in the closing stages while Coast To Coast made relentless headway to get his head in front of On The Net, on the line.
A 'pleasantly surprised' O'Grady also reported 'Barry is on fire at the moment and he got a gorgeous tune out of Coast To Coast at the right time.'
The opening Wexford Renault Hurdle went to O'Grady's Dalton (4/1), always prominent under Geraghty.
The son of Bering, however, was strongly challenged by even money favourite Bob Hall at the second last, but Dalton responded gamely for a three length win.
Afterwards O'Grady commented 'Dalton's experience helped and I am delighted he won. However, he is no longer a novice and it may be difficult to find a race for him now; he'll probably go for a handicap somewhere.'
