Saludos opens his seasonal account

Saludos opened his account for the season when justifying favouritism in the Bet On Your Mobile With Boylesports.com Chase at Thurles but is unlikely to tackle the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival unless there is an ease in the ground.

The 6/4 market leader indicated a return to some form when third to Seabass at Naas last Sunday, and the decision to pop him out again just four days later here paid off.

Robert Power elected to make all on the eight-year-old Bob Back gelding in this

two and a quarter mile event, and held about a two length lead over Shakervilz when that rival fell at the penultimate fence.

This left Saludos with a clear advantage over Kilflora (14/1), who was slightly hampered by the faller, and he went on to record a facile 23 lengths victory.

Winning trainer Jessica Harrington said, “He’s a very difficult horse to place this year, the usual second season novice syndrome. He ran well at Naas last Sunday and, while it was a worry coming back so quick, this looked a winning opportunity.

“Robert said that after going a mile he didn’t think he’d get beaten, and that he was keen to get on with it.

“He needs a lot of rain to run in the Grand Annual but he’s fairly handicapped. If he got yielding ground he’d probably take his chance.

“He could run at Gowran on Saturday week but Fairyhouse and Punchestown are probably out as the ground would be getting too fast. He has his own method of jumping but he jumped the last like a fresh horse.”