First time blinkers work a treat on Tom

First time blinkers worked a treat on Tom Horn as he bounced back to his best to win the Foley’s Bar & Off Licence Chase, scoring under Paul Carberry for Noel Meade and owner JP McManus (completing a double on the card).

The eight-year-old son of Beneficial was well-beaten in the Munster National at Limerick last October, when sent off at 7/1, and he has been disappointing since.

He hinted at a return to form on his last start at Galway when finishing seventh of twenty in the Galway Blazers and he was sent off the well-backed 7/4 second favourite today (opened at 9/4 on-course).

Settled in second behind stablemate London Bridge he went to the front with a circuit to race.

He travelled well into the straight and he was ridden out on the run-in, going on to score easily by six and a half lengths. Arzembouy Premier was sent off the 5/6 favourite and he finished a disappointing second under Barry Geraghty for Gordon Elliott.

Noel Meade said afterwards: "It was a nice opportunity for him. We put blinkers on as Frank (Berry) felt he was not jumping as well as he can. Paul said his jumping improved as he went around today.

"He wants good ground and a trip. He's in the Munster National and we'll look at the Cork National and other long distance races like that. The further they go the better for him."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee