Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- irishracing.com
- Punchestown
- News
- Strong opening at Wexford
Strong opening at Wexford
Last Goodbye winning at Roscommon
© Photo Healy Racing
Late arrival is not advised at Wexford on Bank Holiday Monday, with the Peter Nolan Bloodstock Maiden Hurdle attracting a field with several promising youngsters in its ranks.
Eight four-year-olds will line up for the two-miler, and two locally-trained runners are not long about catching the eye - namely Last Goodbye and Crazyheart
Many racegoers will be familiar with Liz Doyle's Last Goodbye after he showed his worth by landing a Roscommon bumper last month.
The well-related Millenary gelding is an exciting type to go jumping with, and in-form Sean Flanagan is aboard for his hurdling debut.
From the Paul Nolan stable, Crazyheart may not be as familiar a name to many punters, but judged by his point-to-point win for Colin Bowe at Tallow last spring, the chestnut might not be long about making an impression over flights.
Given his Flat pedigree, it was unusual for Crazyheart to come through the point-to-point ranks, and indeed the Alhaarth gelding's full-sister, Waterways, was precocious enough to win the Listed Marble Hill Stakes as a two-year-old at the Curragh in 2005.
Crazyheart was snapped up by Paul Nolan for £110,000 at the Brightwells Cheltenham Sale on the Thursday evening of the Festival back in March.
Mikey Fogarty will take the reins on Crazyheart now, but this will be no easy task for his initial attempt under Rules, with the experienced Holy Water looking worthy of a place at the top of the market.
Throw in Roachdale House Oighear Dubh and Tithonus and the hope would be that we will learn plenty from this competitive affair.
Elsewhere, there are just four horses in contention for the featured Listed M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase at 3.15.
Willie Mullins is two-handed with Indevan (David Mullins) and Urano (Danny Mullins). Archie Meade and Gold Patrol have it to do with the Mullins pair on ratings.
The Wexford Rated Novice Hurdle is another race noteworthy heat.
There does not look to be much between the six here on official ratings, but perhaps Winter Lion and Prince Kup can dominate.