ACE FOLSOM TO BE A TRUE BLUE!
Elliott’s charge can land the stamina-sapping National Trial
FOLSOM Blue can roll back the years in the €100,000 Boylesports Grand National Trial at Punchestown today.
One of four runners in the race for Gordon Elliott, the 11-year-old has been in fine heart over hurdles this season.
He won at Clonmel in November and has since shown up well to reach the frame in valuable handicaps at Navan and Sandown.
On both occasions Folsom Blue has been noted putting in some good late work, so the step up to three and a half miles looks ideal for him.
The testing ground should also suit him well and it is worth remembering that he did win this race back in 2014. Stablemate Space Cadet showed up well to take third in the Thyestes Chase last time and he looks a likely contender.
Another to keep in mind is the lightly-weighted Spider Web, who did win well at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Aside from the feature event, Elliott has a number of good chances throughout the day. His Hardline gets the vote in the Listed novice hurdle after finding Grade 1 company too demanding on his last couple of runs.
Hardline was flattered to take third behind Whiskey Sour last time, but his previous third in the Royal Bond was a good effort.
Earlier in the season he looked a promising type when notching up two wins and this level of competition should be much more to his liking.
His biggest danger could come from Riders Onthe Storm, who saw off some decent rivals to win nicely at Navan last month.
In the three-mile handicap hurdle, the Elliott-trained Swingbridge is the choice following some solid runs in defeat.
He would have gone close to winning a handicap chase at this track last month only to make a terrible mistake at the second-last fence.
In the bumper, Getaway John is the choice following his pleasing comeback at Fairyhouse last month.
He was beaten just a head on that occasion and is entitled to improve for his first run for 11 months.
The card begins with a cross-country chase, where Enda Bolger has a strong hand. His Josies Order is the selection following a couple of decent efforts in this sphere earlier in the season.
He has the advantage of recent fitness on his side whereas stablemate Auvergnat hasn’t been seen since November.
In the maiden hurdle, High Sparrow is put forward after coming out on top in what looked quite a useful bumper at Limerick over Christmas.
The former Grade 1 winner Gilgamboa is sure to be popular in the hunters chase, but a chance is taken on Burning Ambition, who won well at Limerick.