Henry de Bromhead had an enjoyable birthday at Wexford courtesy of impressive winners Heart Wood and Inthepocket.
Firstly it was Heart Wood who came out on top as a small but select field of three contested the Michael Hickey Memorial Chase over two miles and seven furlongs.
Emmet Mullins' National Hunt Chase winner Corbetts Cross was one of the trio, with Paul Gilligan’s smart hurdler Buddy One continuing his graduation to chasing after striking first time out over fences.
Heart Wood has been jumping the larger obstacles since joining Henry de Bromhead from France and is a Grade Three winner already, with his last outing being a third-placed effort in the Mildmay at Aintree.
He was the 8-13 favourite under Darragh O’Keeffe at Listed level at Wexford and when receiving 15lb from Corbetts Cross, he skipped to a seven-length victory to kick his season off on a good note.
De Bromhead said: "I’m delighted, he is a lovely horse and he has done brilliantly.
"I’m delighted to get it for (owners) Robcour. Darragh was good on him, he jumped well and he picked up well.
"You’d have to hope he has progressed from last season, he is still a very young horse, so hopefully he will keep progressing.
"We are considering the Drinmore if he is still eligible for it, we just need to confirm that, we think he might be."
Heart Wood supports short-priced favouritism in the Michael Hickey Memorial Chase under Darragh O'Keeffe for Henry de Bromhead! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/lLz24JnWoD
— Wexford Racecourse (@WexfordRacecour) October 28, 2024
JP McManus’ Corbetts Cross and Mark Walsh came home second when 10 lengths ahead of Buddy One, to whom he was also conceding 15lb.
Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, said: "He jumped well and finished off the race very well.
"We are reasonably happy with him and he’ll progress from it.
"We’ll see how he comes out of the race and decide something for him then.
"It was a big ask trying to give the winner so much weight on his first run back. Mark was very happy with the way he jumped and how he quickened up over the last two."
Inthepocket then continued a successful afternoon for the stable when landing the Wexford Racecourse Members Supporters Club Beginners Chase.
The seven-year-old was a high class hurdler with a Grade One title to his name from the Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree, and made a pleasing chasing debut when second at Navan in November last year.
He did not run again that season, however, and was seen for the first time after nearly a year when the 1-2 favourite under Walsh.
The absence evidently proved no hindrance as he ran a very impressive race to score by 15 lengths from Gordon Elliott’s Grade One winner Farren Glory.
"I’m delighted with that. He has always been a really nice horse," De Bromhead said.
"He jumped great and Mark was brilliant on him as ever. He is a really exciting horse for us. He just had a minor issue last season and we decided to put him away.
"We definitely feel he is probably better going left-handed than right. The Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas is gone now but we will find something for him. We are just delighted with today."
Meanwhile, Envoi Allen is set to return to action in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday.
De Bromhead's 10-year-old is no stranger to the race having won the contest in 2022 before finishing second to Gerri Colombe by just a neck last season.
After the latter run his campaign included second place in the Ryanair Chase and a fourth-placed run in the Melling Chase at Aintree.
De Bromhead reports the gelding to be well ahead of his seasonal reappearance and Down Royal is the intended start to his term.
He said: "Envoi Allen seems in great form, we worked him the other day and we hope to run him."
Also entered at the meeting is Mystical Goddess, who is set to line up in Friday’s Grade Three Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle after winning her rules debut at Clonmel by an impressive four and three-quarter lengths earlier in the month.
"Mystical Goddess won in Clonmel and she will go for the mares’ novice hurdle on the Friday," the trainer added.
"She has come out of Clonmel good and she is a nice mare, so hopefully she will keep progressing."
