Firstman takes the last for Martin and Coen

Firstman availed of a lovely seam down the inner to defy 10st 2lb in the second division of the Mary Rogers Memorial Handicap in Bellewstown. Bolero put up a brave effort in second in her bid to give Harry Rogers and Siobhan Rutledge a double in both divisions of the race that meant so much to the trainer.

Ben Coen steered Firstman into a threatening position on the rail a furlong and a half out and the pair made solid progress to take over inside the final furlong.

The prominent Bolero (15/2) ran on again close home and got to within three parts of a length of the 11/4 winner. Zebos Beanos (66/1) was in there pitching too in third.

Trainer Tony Martin said: “It’s great for the boys (Keep Your Distance Syndicate) and they are a great cheerful lot who claimed him last year in Dundalk. He was owned by a great man in Eric Carson.

“It’s after working out well and he’s won a couple and was a tad unlucky on Monday.

“It was unreal the way it all opened for him like the Red Sea.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee