I Will Follow lands Wexford gamble

Grand National winning trainer Martin Brassil struck at Wexford today with heavily supported 11/8 favourite I Will Follow who won the Monart Handicap Hurdle under jockey Paul Townend.

The son of Bonbon Rose was backed from 9/4 on track to 11/8 ‘jolly’ and in the race, went clear of his rivals approaching the final flight and in the end won snugly by three and three parts of a length from Lockeen Girl

I Will Follow was an eye-catcher when second, from an initial rating of 88, on his handicap hurdle debut at Roscommon earlier this month and following today’s win, Brassil remarked “he had three runs in the winter and I thought he'd handle soft ground but he didn't.

“It was a pleasant surprise in Roscommon that he handled the better ground and I'm glad he has progressed from there. I don't know how good he is but he has won now and it is a stepping stone to somewhere else.

“He stays well, jumps well and is a summer easy ground horse rather than a winter heavy ground horse. He likes a nice level track and there might be a race for him in Listowel in September.”

Quotes from Donal Murphy