Bird flies in to take the first at Wexford The Sarah Joanna Connell trained Catchabird made her previous experience count when landing the opening Wexford Racecourse Saturday Mornings Park Run Mares Maiden Hurdle at Wexford. Despite coming into the contest as a 13-race maiden, the Clare Connell owned eight-year-old was backed from 6/1 into 7/4f under Aidan Kelly. Tracking the front two from the outset, Kelly moved closer after three out. Going second after the penultimate flight, Catchabird headed Jumbos Jet at the last, before keeping on well for a three-and-a-quarter length success. Tallow based Sarah Connell said: "She's been knocking on the door in handicaps and she just couldn't get her day. "We played around in trip a bit, but I think the two miles is her trip. We probably made a bit too much use of her before and we said we'd take our time today and see if she'd come home and she did. She got a very good ride from Aidan. "She was getting the 8lb from the bumper winners today and we thought she was entitled to win. She was race fit and had been running all winter. "She is a home bred and is a full-sister to Getabird, so it was important to get a win with her. "She'll keep tipping away once the ground is on the slow side, she wouldn't handle any quick ground. "She's in at Navan on Saturday and might turn up there with a penalty. "That's my second winner of the season and I had my first one last year. I've only the two in training at the moment and they've both won now." Additional reporting by Donal Murphy.
