Whenurgoodurgood clears the last under Mike O'Connor© Photo Healy Racing
After recently taking his licence back out, trainer Joe Fox got back amongst the winners with Whenurgoodurgood in the visitwexford.ie Handicap Hurdle.
Previously trained by Nigel Slevin, the nine-year-old gelding had his first start for Fox at Roscommon last month, finishing fifth over two miles.
Upped in trip to three miles this evening, the son of Whitmore's Conn was sent off a 10/1 chance under Mike O’Connor for owners Thomas Kelly and Lesley-Anne Fox (daughter of the winning trainer).
In a share of the lead from four out, the bay victor improved hit the front entering the straight and while he was pressed by Charlie Bit Me at the last, he pulled out more on the run-in, going on to score by a length-and-three parts.
Charlie Bit Me, who was returned the 18/5 favourite, had to settle for second under Kevin Sexton for Peter Fahey, while Da Big Fella (5/1) was another four-and-three parts of a length back in third. Golden Glen fell six out and brought down the 4/1 second favourite Porky Rush
Fox, who trains in Co Meath and had his last winner in 2010, said: "If he stayed the trip I expected him to go close. He had been working well at home and won before over two-and-a-half miles at Killarney.
"He made a bad mistake on his first start over fences at Tramore last summer and it finished him for the year. It knocked all off his confidence and it took him a long time to come back.
"He ran a grand race over two-miles at Roscommon and I just thought today on good ground that we had a good chance. He is a big horse and fences will be his game. We will try and get another hurdles race into him.
"He is the only horse I have in. I left the licence go for nine years and I’m back working in Bective Stud now for Noel and Valerie Moran. I see a lot of good horse there and now I have another!"
