At the fifth time of asking, a favourite finally obliged at Wexford. Rockonliam, the 7/4 market leader, powered six lengths clear in the 4:35 Poolcourt Engineering Handicap Chase under Darragh O’Keeffe — and landed our preview’s verdict in the process.
| Pos | Horse | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Rockonliam | Darragh O’Keeffe | 7/4F |
| 2nd | Teenage Kiss | Charlie O’Dwyer | 7/2 |
| 3rd | Ceroc | Phillip Enright | 3/1 |
The Race Story
Henry de Bromhead’s improving chaser had won his maiden chase at this track by upwards of four lengths, and the question posed by his opening handicap mark of 118 — lenient or fair? — was answered emphatically. Stepping up to three miles and a furlong for the first time, Rockonliam galloped his seven rivals relentless over Bettyville’s sharp, undulating circuit, drawing right away from Teenage Kiss up the run-in with Ceroc three quarters of a length back in third.
Favourite-backers deserved it after a bruising afternoon: the first four fancied horses on the card had all been turned over, including the heavily backed Willie Mullins banker Nadia’s Boy, who trailed home last in the 3:25.
Tipster Accountability
Our Wexford preview made Rockonliam both a best bet and the race verdict — “looks well treated and gets the vote” at 7/4 — and he delivered exactly as advertised. The bittersweet part: he was a leg of the site’s 45/1 Saturday accumulator, which had already been sunk by Nadia’s Boy two races earlier. No tracked tipsters from today’s review had bets at Wexford.
Looking Ahead
Next up at 5:05 is the BoyleSports Handicap Chase over the sharp two miles, where the preview’s verdict is Lady Doyanne at 3/1 — a de Bromhead double bid, with the yard having won two of the last five runnings. Note one change since the morning: Kilbrin Rocco is a non-runner (allergy). The 5:35 mares bumper then closes the card, with Honey Bucks taking on the Mullins debutante Alicious. Earlier, Beggars Rock sank another favourite in the 4:00.
