Oliver ready to move Financial Conduct up in class

Andrew Oliver's four-year-old gelding has hit a rich seam of form and punters were keen to latch onto the 2/1 favourite.

He tanked along in second entering the straight and moved to the head of affairs from Commander Won with less than a quarter of a mile to travel.

He was given the office by Shane Foley in the final furlong and bounded away to score by three lengths. Spruce Meadows (14/1) and Lucent Dream (10/1) completed the placings in second and third respectively.

“He's been a pleasure to train. He's a big horse and he seems to be improving all the time,” Andrew Oliver said.

“We felt he was a bit unlucky the last time as he missed about five days with the snow. Shane said he came there and blew up.

“He had a straightforward prep this time and came on from the last run. Shane gave him a lovely ride and we're very happy.

“That's all there is for him at Dundalk and he'll now go to the grass. We'll have no fear stepping him up in trip or stepping him up in grade.

“He's a horse that has kept improving and is one of those horses that thrives well at home.

“There are some big staying handicaps during the year and big staying races if he steps into stakes grade. He's worth it now as he's earned his stripes.

“We always thought he'd be versatile ground-wise and that he'd handle everything but he skips off that.

“I really have no fear about ground and we're coming into summer now so that shouldn't be an issue.

“If the race was there for him I wouldn't mind any ground. He's very strong so he should be able to get through it. Time will tell.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson