Scotch Quay and Ricky Doyle lead home their rivals© Photo Healy Racing
There were a few of them lively in the market for the Slaney Estuary Handicap Hurdle at Wexford but those that stuck with the form horse and favourite were rewarded with Scotch Quay putting two wins back to back.
It finally all came together for the Arakan gelding on his previous start at Clonmel ten days earlier and on this occasion he was backed from 7/2 into 11/4 to follow up. Sillogue Pio was a popular 5/1 shot on his debut for Gavin Cromwell, whilst Percy B Shelley was one of the biggest movers for this meeting through the day eventually going off the 100/30 second favourite.
That gave the Eoin Griffin-trained and Ricky Doyle-ridden winner most to do, but he beat them well at the finish, by three lengths and a length and a quarter.
"It's amazing what a win does for a horse's confidence. It took him so long to win and now he has backed it up. I know it was a bad race but they still take winning. I'm delighted to get it," said Griffin.
"He is declared to run at Fairyhouse on Sunday and we will see how he is in the morning. If he is okay we will go there. The ground today was a little bit dead for him and I'd say the ground in Fairyhouse will be a bit nicer."
The Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Soul Season, trained by Thomas James for failing to lodge the passport in accordance with the provisions of Rule 90(i).
(DM & EM)
