Folsom impresses in Clonmel feature

Folsom Blue completed a hat-trick in tremendous style when taking the step up to Listed class in the featured Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel, and could now be Cheltenham-bound for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle.

By Old Vic out of the useful hurdler Spirit Leader, he’d already proved his ability to stay this two and three quarter miles trip at Thurles last month and really impressed here.

Davy Russell’s mount arrived full of running to strike the front entering the straight, and quickly shrugged off the challenge of outsider Castle Wings (20/1).

The well-backed 2/1 favourite was well clear before the final flight, and Russell could afford to ease him down in the closing stages and still beat Castle Wings by nine lengths. Knockgraffon King (5/1) could only keep on at one pace in the straight to finish another 13 lengths back in third.

Winning trainer Conor O’Dwyer said, “He takes his races well but he’s not over big. If he’s going to Cheltenham then he’ll go straight there. He’s a laid-back horse at home and you wouldn’t know how good he was. But he looks a proper horse.

“I was a bit worried about the ground but he did everything nice and easy and travelled well. He’s entered in the Albert Bartlett and he’s certainly entitled to an entry at least. It’s something to dream about!”

Stan James cut Folsom Blue into 12/1 (from 20's) for the Albert Bartlett.