Speaker Connolly emerged on top in the LAD, Murform & McCrea Ltd. Maiden Hurdle at Wexford, after odds-on favourite Plouios departed at the last.

Plouios had endeavoured to make all and he was still almost on terms when making a mistake and unseating Mark Walsh at the final flight.

The Denis O'Regan-ridden Speaker Connolly could well have been getting the best of it in any case and up the run-in he went on for a two and three parts of a length win from Play At Midnight

"He jumped lovely, he is a nice horse and he will make a nice chaser in time," said winning trainer Alan Fleming on the Barry Connell-owned five-year-old.

"He had a lovely run the first day in Fairyhouse, he then had a nice enough run in a good bumper in Leopardstown.

"He got stuck in the mud the other two times. He just got away with it today in lesser company.

"Denis says he will be nicer on better ground. He will keep going now, but he is only a young horse so we won't be abusing him."

(DM & EM)