Annie Oakley puts it all together

Annie Oakley was too strong for Dushrembrandt at the end of the two mile seven novice chase in Wexford.

Mark Bolger had the seven-year-old mare poised on the outside tracking Painted Lady and Dushrembrandt on the run to the second last.

She soon stayed on to hunt down Dushrembrandt coming to the last fence. Inside the final 150 yards she forged ahead of Dushrembrant as she took the spoils by three lengths at 12/1. The runner-up was the 9/10 favourite.

Handler Jessica Harrington said: "She gets terrible slating for her bad jumping and not going but she was on a going day today and she is actually in-foal to Milan. She goes on heavy ground and she goes on good ground. She has won three races now and it is great.

"The course seems to ride very well this way. It is a good test of stamina. I think it is safer going uphill to the finish. I never like running horses downhill. All the downhill is the far side and the fences seem to jump very well. I think it is a great spectacle for the spectators here with two fences right in front of the stands."

Mark Bolger added: "She got a fall at Christmas in Limerick and she lost her confidence from that and it took a while for her to get it back. She has put it all together there today. She has won well in the end.

"I was confident I was going to get there. She kind of raced a bit lazily coming down the hill and I ended up there probably too soon. She's actually won with plenty in hand in the end. I'm delighted now for Mrs Harrington and the owner (Mrs Galvin).

"She jumped very well on the whole and travelled great. Confidence is back and she stays all day. Three miles is probably her trip and on that ground she relished it really well today.

"I've no complaints over the track. That was the first chase and in comparison to going right-handed it rides well. For a summer track it's a good job."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy