Forty Foot Tom is led back into the parade ring after his success© Photo Healy Racing
Despite a market drift, Forty Foot Tom made it third time lucky over fences as he took the Cashel Beginners Chase under Adrian Heskin for trainer Daniel Miley.
The 8yo son of King's Theatre opened at the 3/1 with Paddy Power this morning but drifted on track from 4/1 out to a starting price of 9/2.
Having finished fifth on his chasing debut to subsequent Powers Gold Cup winner Realt Mor, he then ran much better next time out at Down Royal to finish just a length and three parts behind Seriatim.
Having chased the leaders for much of the contest he improved at the third last and led entering the straight. Mackeys Forge looked a threat to him at the second last but that fellow unseated Roger Loughran and Forty Foot Tom kept on well from there to record an easy twenty length success from the Davy Fitzgerald trained Playtime Ben in second at 10/1 under Rob Jones. Hit The Headlines was the gamble of the race for Davy Russell and Charlie Swan (7/2 this morning and 5/2 into 2/1 clear favourite at the off) but he had to settle for third, a further four and a quarter lengths back.
Daniel Miley said afterwards: "He did it well. I was hoping he would improve on the better ground. That is the first time since last May that he has got good ground.
"Despite what everyone else thought, I never thought he was a heavy ground horse.
"I was thinking of going down the handicap route with him but we’ll probably go for a winners of one with him now."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
