Hayes doubles up as Fine Margin wins for Mullins Having ridden a winner earlier in the afternoon, Brian Hayes completed a double on the card when Fine Margin stayed on best to take the MSK Silversand Beginners Chase at Wexford. Making his first start over fences, the Willie Mullins trained eight-year-old was also racing for the first time since finishing tailed off at Cheltenham in October. However, fitness or lack of chasing experience proved no barrier as the gelding saw off a pair of better fancied rivals. Tracking the pace in third, as Al Gasparo led market leader Hms Seahorse, Hayes came under pressure entering the straight as the two principals went head to head in front. Hms Seahorse held a narrow advantage after two out but Al Gasparo rallied. Hayes switched Fine Margin to the inside to throw down his challenge at the last. Getting way from that obstacle the best of the trio, Fine Margin stayed on strongly to beat Hms Seahorse by one and a half lengths. Patrick Mullins said: "He had been on the go a long time and went off the boil after bringing up a hat-trick last season. He jumped great today and Brian gave him a super ride, he is riding out of his skin at the moment. "He wants good ground and we'll keep him on the go. He might be a horse to go over to Cheltenham in October, November time. I think he looks a better chaser than a hurdler. "It was a good performance, maybe some of the others underperformed. He surprised us there and hopefully he will keep surprising us." Additional reporting by Donal Murphy.
