Winning rider Colman Sweeney© Photo Healy Racing
The Rodger Sweeney trained Salsify put in an impressive performance to win the Raymond Smith Memorial Hunters Chase under Sweeney's son Colman.
The son of Beneficial, won the Champion Hunters Chase at the Punchestown Festival last May but had disappointed since that finishing second behind Footy Facts in a point-to-point at Dromahane before being pulled up in the race won by Merchant Royal at Thurles just last month.
Sent off at 11/1 today, the 7yo gelding was travelling best on the run to the last where he jumped into the lead and ran on well from there when driven out, scoring by three and three parts of a length.
The Tony Martin trained Saddlers Storm bravely attempted to make all in the three mile contest but he found just one too good as he was headed by the winner at the last and plugged on for second at 16/1 under Kevin Power.
The 9/4 favourite On The Fringe for Enda Bolger and John Thomas McNamara managed to take third, three parts of a length behind.
3/1 shot Vic Venturi for Dessie Hughes with Robbie McNamara aboard ran no sort of race trailing in a very disappointing twelfth.
Winning trainer Rodger Sweeney said afterwards: "If he comes out of this alright we will have a look at the Foxhunters with him.
"There is some difference between the ground and the ground at the Thurles the last day. That's nice ground for him as he's probably more of a spring horse.
"He deserves a crack at it (the Foxhunters in Cheltenham)."
Paddy Powers go 8/1 from 20's about the winner for the Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
