Finger Onthe Pulse ended a very lean spell for trainer Tom Taaffe when making all to take the Southampton Goodwill Chase.

The 9/4 chance jumped super for Mark Walsh, and kept on well in the straight to hold the challenge of the well-supported 11/8 favourite For Bill by a length and a quarter. Free World (5/2) appeared to be starting to struggle when making a mistake at the second last, and weakened to finish a well beaten third.

This was the Straffan handler's first winner since Steeltown won at Roscommon 12 months ago, and he was obviously relieved afterwards.

Taaffe said, “We had two viruses in a row but are out of the trenches and ready to fight again! Thankfully the horses seem to be healthy again, and hopefully we can build on this. This has been a great horse for us winning a Jewson at Cheltenham and a Galway Plate.”

Mark Walsh said, “I got a great spin out of him when third in the Kerry National last year, and the instructions today were just to go out and let him enjoy himself.”

Alan Magee