Smithscorner (Conor Orr, nearside) beats Mega Mindy (Mikey Hamill)© Photo Healy Racing
The nicely supported Smithscorner ran out a convincing winner of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase at Wexford for trainer Michael Kennedy and jockey Conor Orr.
The handicap chase debutant wasn’t long about pouncing on a mistake by Mega Mindy at the final fence.
He won easily in any case, by six and a half lengths in the end.
There was a gap of ten lengths then from Mega Mindy to the third home, Little Haarth
Backed into 4/1 from 11/2 on track, and bigger earlier, Smithscorner was adding to a Bellharbour point-to-point win in 2017 and a Cork handicap hurdle victory in 2018.
"We thought there was a handicap in him off that mark," disclosed Kennedy.
"I didn't think he would win today, I thought he would need the experience of a handicap.
"We are delighted with him, he is a progressive horse.
"We will see how he is but we might run him in Killarney in a few weeks. I'd say we could step him up in trip."
C.A. Landers, rider of Crazywork De Vassy (FR) trained by Michael J. McDonagh, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled and made mistakes.
D.J. O'Keeffe, rider of Da Baba Elephant trained by Ronan M.P. McNally, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled and was pulled up thereafter.
(DM & EM)
