Gibney & Flanagan on the mark with Bend

The Tom Gibney trained Next Bend ran out a convincing winner of the Join The Wexford Racecourse Supporters Club Today Maiden Hurdle.

Having his eighth start over hurdles the son of Azamour was sent off the 9/4 joint-favourite in the colours of Drogheda owner Derek Kierans.

Settled in mid-division by Mark Flanagan he got a lovely run through on the inner as they entered the straight.

He soon hit the front and stretched clear, going on to score easily by twelve lengths. First Post (8/1) finished second under Jonathan Moore for Adrian McGuinness, while Heron Heights the other joint-favourite, was a further length and a half back in third under Phillip Enright for Henry De Bromhead.

Tom Gibney said afterwards: "I was very worried beforehand as we had a bad virus in the yard in January and I've only had two runners back since they got sick.

"Ah Littleluck in Limerick the other day was very disappointing and we were nervous for that reason.

"This fellow seems to be okay away. Until I saw them running well again you wouldn't know. Otherwise we would have been very strong on this fellow.

"Hopefully he'll have a nice mark on the flat. We will have a look at a novice handicap at Fairyhouse for him now."