Impressive Blue completes 19/1 Nolan double

Highbrow Blue completed a quick double for the Paul Nolan yard when routing his 14 rivals in the Black Point Beginners Chase.

Like stablemate Seven Acres (9/1) half-an-hour earlier, this six-year-old gelding was also well-supported having been available at 3/1 in the morning and was sent off the evens favourite. Spot Fine set a strong pace which soon had the field well strung out but he folded quickly when headed by the winner three out.

Davy Russell took no prisoners driving the ‘jolly’ into a clear lead by the next and, with a yawning gap back to the remainder after jumping the last, he could take things very easily on the run-in to record a 16 lengths verdict. Killtilane Rose came out best of the chasing back for second spot, with Hop In third.

Nolan said, “That was his first run for us and he jumped well. He had some decent runs before today for Micahel Griffin as he won a point-to-point on good ground and was second to a good horse of Gordon Elliott’s (Moonshine Lad) in Limerick.

“This race was restricted to horses rated less than 109 over hurdles so we felt we had to go for it.

“We have him about three months, and it’s nice to have a winner for John Brennan. I’d say it’s nearly going back to the Galway Hurdle with Cuan Na Grai (in 2006) since we last had a winner for him.

“His hurdle rating is 105 so we can always go back over hurdles for a handicap with him.”

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy