The Big Clubman an apt winner on county finals day With the nearby Wexford Park playing host to county finals this afternoon, The Big Clubman was an appropriate winner of the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Maiden Hurdle. Indeed, Davidstown Courtnacuddy, the home club of Paul Nolan, are in action in the Intermediate Hurling final, with the winning trainer conspicuous by his absence at Bettyville. Second when last seen in a point-to-point at Tattersalls this weekend 12-months ago, the successful Affinsea five-year-old was subsequently bought by current connections for 75,000 pounds. Settled in mid-division by Sean O'Keeffe, the Goffs Arkle Sale graduate was pushed along in fifth approaching the straight, soon making steady headway. Ridden in second away from the last, he then challenged the front-running Parnell Street (13/8jfav) and got by that rival inside the final 100 yards, going on to score by two lengths in the colours of the DKCR2 Partnership. The aforementioned Parnell Street had to settle for second under Adam Ryan, while The Store Boy (13/8jfav) was another four-and-a-half lengths back in third. "He is a lovely horse. Coming here for his first run of the season we just said we'd give him a nice education and hopefully he could run on well at the finish and maybe not be too far away if he was good enough," the winning rider revealed. "He was still plenty green through the race. Once we hit the rising ground turning in he was picking up and I thought going to the last with a good jump we'd win. "They went a good gallop and he is still a shade green, so they were going a shade quick for him for a lot of the race, but he has a good background from the point-to-points and he jumped super. "The winner (Etna Bianco) of the point-to-point where he finished second was placed in Cheltenham on Friday, so that's working out well. "There should be plenty of improvement in him and he can step up in trip as well, so he is a nice one to look forward to. "Paul and his brother James are at the county final today and hopefully they'll get a bit of luck there as well."
