Wood wins by thirty-one lengths on debut

Newcomer Massey's Wood came home a very easy winner of the last at Listowel, the Kerry Group Flat Race.

Sold for E30,000 as a three-year-old, the son of Black Sam Bellamy was expected to get off the mark today, going off the 1/2 favourite (6/5 last night and from 4/7 on-course).

Sent straight to the front by Steven Clements, the Alan Fleming trained bay made all. He stretched clear before the entrance to the straight, and came home thirty-one lengths to the good in the colours of winning owner Barry Connell. Crumpledandcreased (9/4) finished second under Patrick Mullins for his father Willie, while Sabre Mist was fifty-nine lengths back in third.

Fleming said afterwards: "He is a lovely looking horse and I'm not sure if he'll go for a winners' bumper as he could go hurdling. He's a good stayer and will get 2m 4f and further as well, but 2m 4f will be far enough for him for now.

"It wasn't a vintage bumper by any means but we were hopeful of a good run and he should have a future now. He did it quite well and jumps great."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes