Coleman's Soldier is Fleet of Foot on turf

Fleetfootsoldier transferred his progressive all-weather form to the rain-softened surface at Bellewstown to land the Champion Lettings Handicap.

A winner and runner-up on successive outings at Dundalk in March, the Awtaad gelding returned from a break to make a winning turf debut in the hands of Nathan Crosse.

Having tracked the leaders, the winner found forged to the front inside the final furlong to beat Lasting Peace by two and a quarter lengths.

Winning trainer Kevin Coleman said: “We had him down as an all-weather horse. He’s a big, raw horse so we gave him a bit of a break and he took ages to get ready.

“He needs a mile and further. He tries hard and there is a lot left in him because he’s big and weak.

“I didn’t think he’d handle but it’s probably not too bad yet (changed to yielding after race 1). The horses are running well so that probably helps.”

Coleman and Crosse also teamed up to win with Coumshingaun at the Curragh last Saturday.

Quotes from Alan Magee