Blueberry Shows his Old Sparkle

J'y Vole was a former Grade 1 winner to excel in handicap company yesterday and whilst it was a Grade 2 that Blueberry Boy captured back in 2006 (the Craddockstown Novice Chase, over the course and distance), he too found the company to his liking in the Irish Sun Handicap Chase.

Paul Stafford sent the now ten-year-old out from a Co. Dublin base for that big success but he is now operating from Rockview Stables in Bellewstown. Stafford lately got a good tune out of the ex-Stephen Mahon-trained Will Jamie Run, winning twice and finishing runner-up in a valuable event at Navan. Conor Maxwell was in the plate those three times and he was also on Blueberry Boy here.

"He was disappointing last year and we had different tests done but we don't really know what the problem was, he just wasn't right. He has come here fresh and always seems to run well fresh. Conor knows him from his bumper days and said he felt as well as ever today. I've moved to Rockview Stables in Bellewstown and I'd like to give a lot of the credit to the facilities they have there. Hopefully this win is a sign of things to come," said Stafford, who has six horses in training.