Sardinia to the fore in dramatic Wexford heat

Sardinia justified the faith of those that backed him into 9/2 from 7s but he was a pretty lucky winner of the opening Wexford Racecourse Supporters Club Maiden Hurdle.

Bang in form local rider Mikey Fogarty tried to make all on the former Ballydoyle performer but he was struggling to keep up with leader Voice Of A Curlew (10s into 17/2) from before the last.

When that one fell it looked like the door may have been opened for the favourite, Ashjar but he was badly hampered in the incident and Sardinia (got the final flight wrong himself) went on to defeat the staying on pair, Shutter Island and Mizyen by half a length and a length and three parts.

Winning trainer Paul Nolan commented: "He is just not that good at jumping, and he took a few hurdles out the ground and it cost him a lot. I thought the blinkers would sharpen him up and they did to a certain extent. He will mix it now between the hurdles and flat, and hopefully we won't dis-improve him too much on the level!"

Sardinia cost 50,000 guineas at Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale, and he is a half-brother to Alexandrova who won the Epsom and Irish Oaks in 2006.

E.J. O'Connell, rider of Shantou Flyer trained by Colin Bowe, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount gurgled from the top of the hill.(DM & EM)