Blackthorn Prince completes 3-mile hat-trick

Blackthorn Prince completed a hat-trick in three-mile handicaps when justifying favouritism in the www.grahamnorris.com Memorial Handicap Hurdle, and in the process provided Barry Geraghty with a double on the day at Clonmel.

The Enda Bolger-trained gelding, who also won a point-to-point at Cragmore earlier this year, started his winning run over hurdles at Ballinrobe in August and followed up over this course and distance last month.

The well-backed 2/1 favourite challenged before two out and, while Trade Marked appeared the more likely winner jumping the last, the J P McManus-owned winner found much more under pressure on the run-in.

Three quarters of a length separated the pair at the line to supply Geraghty, successful earlier on Mick Jazz with his double. Kilkishen was a further five lengths away in third.

Bolger said, "It's great to win three in a row with any horse and there's another one of these here again at the next meeting. It's 0-140 and over three miles and he likes the course.

"He's a good battler and the ground is a big help to him so we'll leave going chasing until after Christmas."

(TW & AM)