Ted beats stable-mate in finale on the hill

Owner John Breslin and trainer Tony Martin were entitled to be well pleased with the outcome to the Eva-Tec Ltd (Q.R.) Race at Bellewstown as their pair, Ted Veale and Blackmail upstaged the odds-on favourite Pique Sous in the finale this evening on the Hill Of Crockafotha.

After getting the better of Pique Sous from over a furlong out, this year's Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle hero, Ted Veale (under Simon Craig – his first winner in Ireland – has two to his name in the UK) crossed the line four lengths to the good from his eye-catching stable companion, Blackmail. Pique Sous was another half a length back in third.

Martin disclosed in the aftermath: "I couldn't be happier. I was hoping they'd both run well which they did.

"Hopefully they'll come on a bit from it. They've had their summer break.

"There wasn't a blow out of them there. They're straighter than I thought.

"He (Ted Veale) has heaps of options. We were thinking about going novice chasing as he's schooled over fences.

"Hopefully he stays together. If we have him this time next year we'll be laughing.

"He'll get an entry for the Galway Hurdle.

"Touch wood, fingers crossed he'll (Blackmail) go novice hurdling now.

"He was very impressive when he won his point-to-point and he jumped brilliantly that day. He had also run in a few schooling hurdles before that." (GC & EM)