Pleasure at last for O'Brien

Wilde Wit Pleasure whose only previous win was also at this venue in a maiden hurdle, ended a losing run stretching back over three years when taking the featured 2m4f McCarthy Insurance Group Handicap Chase.

The ten-year-old, who certainly didn’t go unbacked having been 20/1 in the morning and further clipped from 10/1 to 8/1 on track, was patiently ridden by Davy Condon.

Sporting blinkers for the first time on his initial outing in a handicap, the bottom weight was produced to challenge two out.

The Sean O’Brien-trained gelding got the better of the exchanges in the air at the last with Jack Bene (7/1), and kept on under pressure on the run-in to score by two lengths. Our Girl Lucy (13/2) held every chance before weakening to finish a further ten lengths back in third.

O’Brien said, “I have to thank (handicapper) Noel O’Brien as it’s the first time he’s been given a chance. He’s been crucified with his hurdle mark for years and I couldn’t believe he got a rating of 110 over fences, which is a mark we could work with.

“His run at Leopardstown left him spot on. He’s a tough horse to get fit.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes