Blue is nobody’s Fol

WINNER of the race four years ago, Folsom Blue might be capable of turning the clock back by landing a second Boylesports Grand National Trial in Punchestown tomorrow.

The 11-year-old, formerly trained by Conor O’dwyer and Mouse Morris, has won just two of his 27 starts over fences. But he has looked in good fettle in his three outings since joining Gordon Elliott and, with conditions in his favour, he should make a bold bid to give his trainer a first success in this €100,000 marathon.

Folsom Blue beat Sole Witness in this event in 2014, when trained by Conor O’dwyer. And his other chase win, at Navan last spring, was also achieved off a mark of 127, 6lb lower than his current rating.

That Navan win came before a creditable second to Abolitionist in the Leinster National at Naas in March. But he failed to figure in two subsequent starts, at Downpatrick and Fairyhouse.

Bought from Gigginstown for £21,000 in September, Folsom Blue made a winning start for his new trainer Gordon Elliott in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Clonmel in November, getting up late to foil Westerner Point.

In his two subsequent starts, he finished fourth, behind Red Devil Lads at Navan and, last time, behind Topofthegame in a valuable handicap at Sandown.

A test of stamina and typical winter ground will suit Folsom Blue, Jack Kennedy’s choice from four Elliott runners. And, if he jumps well, he should run a very big race.

The other Elliott runners,

(third), (fifth) and (sixth) come into the race on the back of Thyestes action. And Space Cadet (Brian Hayes) makes each-way appeal.

But it’s a wide-open, 20-runner handicap. And a case can be made for many of them, including Pat Kelly’s former Pertemps Final winner but without a win in nine starts over fences. He has caught the eye on a number of occasions. And a big win should be imminent from him.

Last year’s winner

is just 4lb higher and is an out-and-out stayer. Both he and Liz Doyle’s

are bidding to extend the good recent record in the race enjoyed by greys. Willie Mullins, whose

finished second last year, holds his best chance with the lightly-raced

last seen when beaten a half-length by Attribution at Limerick in October.

That was his only run once since beating last Sunday’s Unibet Irish Gold Cup victor Edwulf at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve 2016 and will have plenty of supporters.

Another for the short-list is Thyestes runner-up

raised 2lb for his Gowran Park exertions and the mount of 5lb claimer Adam Short.

And, among the bottomweights, although raised 13lb for his Leopardstown win at Christmas and tackling a new trip, cannot be discounted.