Onebrightbluerose makes the breakthrough under Burke-Ott In first time blinkers, Onebrightbluerose made the breakthrough on her fourteenth start in the opening divide of the Wexford Heritage Trails Handicap Hurdle. Owned, trained and bred by Pat Cronin, the Excelebration bay was sent off a 10/1 chance under amateur rider Andy Burke-Ott. Towards rear in the early stages, the five-year-old took closer order after the second and made further progress into a share lead with just under a circuit to go. Gaining a slight advantage before three out, she increased her lead between the final two flights and kept on well under pressure in the closing stages, coming home a length-and-three-quarters to the good. Returned a well-backed 5/1 joint-favourite (from 8s), Bayou Belle tried hard to reel-in the winner, but ultimately had to settle for second, while Mr Sundance (11/2 from 12s early) was another length-and-three-quarters back in third. The other joint-favourite was the Paul Nolan-trained Hatfield Hammer, with this one disappointingly pulled up before the second last. "I wasn't as close as I wanted to be jumping off, she done a massive jump at the second. I went up on her neck a little bit and lost my grip of the reigns," the winning rider explained. "She got a little run on me after that and I got a lovely position then. It was the winning of the race." "She has been a bit disappointing really, I thought she would have won before now," Cronin added. "It's a great thing even to get into these 80-95 races. The conditions of the race suited with no winners in it and she only had ten stone nine on her back. The blinkers probably helped a bit as well. "Andy rides out for me and rides in point-to-points. He rode a winner for me over fences at Thurles last year. "I only have two in training at the moment and I'm based in Doneraile." STEWARDS REPORT The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Hatfield Hammer, trained by Paul Nolan, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
