2016 Kerry National tips: Folsom Blue each-way value for Listowel feature
Published:
David Metcalf | September 12, 2016
2016 Kerry National tips: Folsom Blue each-way value
The Guinness Kerry National is the highlight of Listowel’s seven-day Harvest Festival Meeting, and Folsom Blue looks decent each-way value at the current *8/1 on offer with Coral in this year’s renewal of the 3m handicap chase on Wednesday, September 14th.
Trained by the popular Mouse Morris, the gelding has just one win to his name over fences and that came over 3m 4f at Punchestown on bottomless ground back in February 2014 where he beat Sole Witness by 3 1/2 lengths in a competitive 18-runner affair.
Although now on a long losing run, Folsom Blue has run some excellent races in defeat.
They include a 4 3/4 length third of 28 to Minella Foru at Leopardstown and a cracking six length fourth of 27 to stable companion Rogue Angel in this year’s Irish National at Fairyhouse.
The nine-year-old may well have finished much nearer in the latter but for a costly mistake six out and it was to his credit that he stuck to the task well to get so close.
Unlucky in Coral Scottish Grand National
Folsom Blue was also in the process of running a huge race in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on his penultimate outing when brought down six from home.
The son of Old Vic was tanking along at the time and yet to be asked a serious question and, although a long way from home, there is little doubt that he would have been bang there at the finish had he stood on his feet.
Folsom Blue has since gone on to finish a solid fourth of 17 to Fletcher’s Flyer at the Punchestown Festival and subsequently dropped another 2lb in the weights.
Handy mark and ground holds no fears
He is now able to race off a reduced rating of 133, 1lb less than he carried when a fine fourth in the Irish National.
It gives Folsom Blue major claims from a handicapping perspective, and another plus is that he has plenty of form on testing ground.
Morris also knows what is required to win the race, having sent out Rogue Angel to land the spoils 12 months ago, and nine-year-old horses have a good record in the contest winning four of the last 15 runnings.
In a race which seems sure to become a real stamina test and a war of attrition, Folsom Blue looks to have all the right attributes to run a huge race.
*Folsom Blue was 20/1 with Coral when this preview was originally posted on Monday, September 12th.
Related
There’s more betting tips on offer in Coral news’ horse racing section.
