Rocky Blue and Joey Sheridan with groom Brian Lawlor after winning the Leopardstown Handicap © Photo Healy Racing
Rocky Blue (7/2) had been a real eye-catcher on his comeback from a long lay-off at Sligo, and he duly came forward nicely from that outing to land the 1m 2f handicap.
The former Grade 2 winner over hurdles had been sidelined after that success over this course in December 2018 before his staying-on second over 1m 5f at the Western track earlier this month.
The 5-y-o made light of dropping in distance as he picked up well to lead a furlong out and, in the end, he had three lengths to spare over the front-running Freescape with Mohtarrif keeping on well in third.
It was an 18/1 double for jockey Joey Sheridan after Caesar’s Comet scored earlier.
Winning trainer Tom Mullins said afterwards: “I'm just after finding out that he mightn't be qualified for the Galway Hurdle.
“That was my plan so we may have another plan then if he's not. Maybe he'll go for the amateur handicap or the mile-and-a-half on the Friday.
“There is also the other hurdle that I won twice with Top Othe Ra.
“He'll be going nowhere in the morning if his legs are not good because he did break down a couple of years ago.
“He's in on Saturday but he won't run after today. I was only going to run there if it was too firm tonight.
“He could be an English Cesarewitch horse, there is plenty of money in that and we could also look at York.
“There is probably a real good handicap on the Flat for him and a handicap over hurdles with him as well.
“I think he was rated 132 when he signed off as a hurdler in 2018.
“He's a lovely horse. He's always playful and always wants to get on with the job.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
