Ben Rumson stays on best under Ronan Whelan© Photo Healy Racing
The Tom McCourt trained Ben Rumson landed some nice bets in the concluding Follow Fairyhouse On Social Media Handicap.
Available at 33/1 last night, the son of Ask opened on-course at 16s before going off a 10/1 chance in the colours of owners Sarah and Sean Foran.
Successful at Ballinrobe last July, the winning five-year-old was last seen finishing sixth of sixteen in a handicap hurdle at the Co Mayo venue in May.
Back on the level this evening he was settled in mid-division by Ronan Whelan, but was pushed along and had plenty to do on the approach to the straight.
He made good ground through the field from over two furlongs out, and was ridden to the front inside the final furlong, keeping on well to score by a length and a quarter. Father Mattie finished second under Killian Leonard for Eamonn O'Connell at 11/1, while Blue Skimmer (7s to 6s) was a further half a length back in third with Billy Lee aboard for Nicole McKenna. Lost History (7/1) completed the placings another length and three parts back in fourth, while the well-backed 9/2 favourite (from 6s) Grey Waters was fifth under Wayne Lordan for Joseph O'Brien.
Tom McCourt said afterwards: "He was a bit unlucky over hurdles the last day when he got shuffled back a bit and then made up his ground quick. He ran a nice race in Dundalk before that.
"He's had a few wind problems in the past, and he'll mix it between hurdles and the flat over the summer."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
