Solsbury Hill wins dramatic Beginners' Chase for O'Dwyers Father and son Conor and Charlie O'Dwyer landed a dramatic renewal of the J.F. Hanley Groundscare Beginners Chase at Roscommon with Solsbury Hill. In an incident packed race that saw second favourite St Cuthberts Cave fall and market leader Fiveonefive pulled up after three fences, the drama continued to unfold. Old Bill Barley and Maidenstreetprince led the remaining two runners into the home straight. As Solsbury Hill closed on the front pair travelling strongly two out, Old Bill Barley jumped badly right colliding with the 14/1 chance. However, O'Dwyer soon had Solsbury Hill back on an even keel, staying on nicely to score easily by 11 lengths. “We’re thrilled. I’ve been dying to go chasing with him, even though he’s not hurdling long, as he’s always been that type,” said Conor O’Dwyer. “We thought he had a very nice mark over hurdles and we’re always thinking there was another day in him. “With an opportunity like that on a lovely track with lovely fences, and a small field, we just thought we’ll go for it and we can go back hurdling if we want to. Maybe after that we’ll have a rethink. “There was plenty of drama and it probably fell apart but he couldn’t have done much more on his first start, he jumped nicely. “He likes that bit of nicer ground and two miles is his trip, on that type of track. “He can go back hurdling if we want to, we’ll see what is coming along. “He’ll go on normal winter sort of ground but he wouldn’t be around in January or February in the depths at Navan or things like that. “He’s only back in after a break so there is a bit of improvement there.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
