Exciting Soldier Of Fortune 4yo wins with ease

J P McManus's Early Doors (4g Soldier Of Fortune-Ymlaen, by Desert Prince) won a Wexford maiden hurdle on Monday as comfortably as the form book suggested he would. A 9-length bumper winner at Punchestown on his debut, he finished a close third in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at the same course on his only other start. Trained by Joseph O’Brien, he was sent off odds-on favourite for this hurdling debut and saw off his 13 rivals to win under Mark Walsh. “He had the best bumper form in the race and we would have been disappointed if he couldn't do it like that,” said Walsh. “His jumping could improve but you wouldn't mind that for his hurdles debut, it's all new to him. He seems a nice horse though. “I took it up sooner than I wanted to because I didn't think we went that quick and from looking his bumpers, all he does is gallop. He had the class to just outstay them.”