Mercury makes the breakthrough under Kelly The Philip Rothwell-trained Mercury Mission made the breakthrough on his 22nd start, as he held off the fast-finishing Imadpour in the Visit Wexford Novice Handicap Hurdle. Previously in the care of Willie McCreery and Mikey O'Connor and placed many times, the Ulysses six-year-old was sixth when last seen at Clonmel. With Aidan Kelly aboard for the first time this afternoon, the bay victor raced towards rear in the early stages, making good progress with just over a circuit to go. Improving to lead on the downhill run after three out, he soon skipped a few lengths clear and was ridden to maintain his advantage approaching the last. Jumping that flight well, he was all out on the run-in to hold off 5/1 favourite Imadpour and Caragh Monaghan, with a diminishing neck between them at the line. There was a further three and three-quarters of a length back to recent Leopardstown winner Solsbury Hill (13/2) in third. "He kind of jumped his way into it," Kelly remarked. "Going by the stands with a circuit to go he kind of just locked on to it. I didn't want to be going there at all, but I had no choice. "Philip isn't here but told me this morning to sit three-quarters of the way to halfway back. I felt like we were going a good enough gallop, but my lad just wanted to go faster. "I think he was a maiden coming into this, so it's nice to get his head in front."
