Safran Et Bleu just holds on under Dwan

Those who backed the Pat Doyle trained Safran Et Bleu in from double figures would have been willing the line to come in time, as the gelding just lasted home under Evan Dwan to win Division ll of the Fleadh Cheoil Wexford Handicap Hurdle.

A winner at Kilbeggan on his penultimate start last month, the five-year-old failed to reproduce that effort when down the field at that same venue on his most recent outing.

However, the Youmzain gelding was back to his best here, leading after two out and keeping on strongly from the back of the last.

With both Gondor and Dr Val finishing strongly down his outside, the Doyle trained winner held on for a narrow head verdict.

Pat Doyle "He was disappointing the last day. The ground was softer than ideal today and only for the ground was good up the straight I'd say he wouldn't have won. He wants it quick and it was the best ground we could get.

"He toughed it out well came on the bridle every time he met the nice ground. The whole way around the back Evan said he was struggling on the ground. He is quite slow but is after winning two races now.

"Clare won the All-Ireland on Sunday and his owners are from Ennis, Safran Et Bleu is saffron and blue in French. We might jump a fence with him at some stage and he is a grand horse."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy