Folsom Blue clears the last with Sole Witness (left) in second© Photo Healy Racing
Folsom Blue landed a nice pot on his handicap debut, as he took the Grade C 'Claim Your One Month Free Trial At Racinguk.com' Grand National Trial Handicap Chase.
A Listed winner over hurdles, the seven-year-old son of Old Vic was given a mark of 127 over fences, having disappointed on his first three starts in beginners chases.
Ridden by Bryan Cooper, trained by Conor O’Dwyer and owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the successful bay gelding was sent off at 7/1 (was 10/1 last night with Powers) for the three mile four furlong contest.
Having chased the leaders in the early stages, he was seventh at the halfway stage, before he made progress into fourth at the third last.
He was ridden to lead before the final fence, and he kept on well from there to score by three and a half lengths. Sole Witness who attempted to make all, ran a fine race to finish second at 14/1 under Ben Dalton for Colin McBratney, while Are Ya Right Chief (16/1) was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third under Danny Mullins for his uncle Willie. Portrait King (16/1), who won this race back in 2012, completed the placings another two and three parts of a length back in fourth, under Mark Walsh for Maurice Phelan. Sword Fish went off the 5/1 favourite (was 7/1 last night), but he could only manage a disappointing seventh under Alan Crowe for Christy Roche.
Conor O’Dwyer said afterwards: "It was a great run for his first handicap. He loves that bottomless ground.
"He jumped super for Bryan, and the spin over two miles around Thurles helped to sharpen him up.
"We will have to look at the Irish National now, but he would need plenty of cut in the ground. He is only small and his low weight made a big difference too."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
