Mags Mullins has made a bright start to her training career, and recorded her second winner when the front-running Manuka landed the maiden hurdle at a sun-kissed Wexford.
Robert Power judged the pace well from the front, and the five-year-old gelding kept on well in the straight to beat Pease Blossom by four lengths.
'We will try to win another with him over hurdles but chasing is really his game. He jumps a fence super,' said Ms Mullins, who opened her account as a permit holder with bumper winner Oscar's Advance at Killarney last month and numbers John Magnier and Paul Shanahan among the clients in her successful pre-training yard.
Ashbourne based Michael Harty struck another blow for permit-holder's when Lisa Baker shot clear before the straight under Joey Elliott to beat Home Force by nine lengths in division two of the claiming riders handicap hurdle. This was Harty's first winner but unfortunately he missed the victory as he is currently away on business in Germany.
Creadon Head, trained by Annette McMahon and ridden by Adrian Lane, led before two out to score by a length and a half in division one.
Leading apprentice Pat Cosgrave notched up his 14th winner of the season when Barningham, the northern jockey's first ride for Edward O'Grady, quickened clear off the home bend to beat Maraami by six lengths in the two miles handicap.
Olive Gaule's claim was reduced from 10lb to 7lb after partnering her third winner aboard Corrib Boy in the 0-80 mile and five furlongs handicap. Joe Crowley's charge also employed front-running tactics, and responded gamely for Gaule (23) in the straight to hold on by half a length from Take Your Mark.
'If he comes out of this race okay, he will go for the three-year-old hurdle at Roscommon on Tuesday. He jumps well,' said the Piltown trainer.
Damian Murphy was seen to good effect when riding his eighth winner on Persian Return in the 0-50 mile and five furlongs handicap. The Pat Martin-trained gelding, who struck the front three furlongs out and ran on well to beat Love On Request by two and a half lengths, may turn out again in a similar event at Downpatrick on Saturday.
Alan Magee
