Blair Perrone wins hard held for Ruby

The Tony Martin trained Blair Perrone bounced back to winning ways in the Henry Shefflin & Aidan O'Brien Rated Novice Hurdle at Gowran today, coming from off the pace to win on the bridle for jockey Ruby Walsh.

Blair Perrone had defeated 2014 Cheltenham Bumper winner Silver Concorde in his maiden hurdle win during Christmas but since then beat just one rival in two subsequent starts.

The winner did need plenty handling by Walsh, and having avoided a faller at the first hurdle, was restrained in last for much of the trip.

A mistake at the third last didn't halt his progress and, having travelled strongly, the son of Rudimentary moved to the front jumping the final flight. Blair Perrone then coasted home under a hard-held grip on the run-in, for a four and a half lengths win over Domesday Book

Afterwards Martin stated "I always thought he'd be a nice horse but he can be a bit hit and miss but he showed his true colours today.

"The penny is starting to drop with him, and he could make a nice novice chaser next year.

"Hopefully the ground is safe and he could go to Fairyhouse or Punchestown. He's definitely a winter ground horse."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee