Irish Blaze and Carl Millar (centre) © Photo Healy Racing
Irish Blaze (5/1) had his day in the sun at gloomy Down Royal today, landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase for jockey Carl Millar and new trainer Cian Collins.
The Pony Sopranos Syndicate's eight-year-old was the missing piece of a notable jigsaw at today's course on November 10 when, despite running well to finish third, his was the only race in which his then trainer Gordon Elliott failed to win on a seven-race card.
Today, on his second start for trainer Collins, the front-runner was headed and dropped to third place jumping the second-last and having matched for cents at 700 in-running, rallied to regain the lead on the run-in, beating Captains Nephew
Collins commented "I thought he was going too quick during the race but, in fairness, Carl (Millar) sat up and gave him a breather down to the second-last. He finished very strong.
"I thought he'd go close, but I didn't think he would win that easily (by 6.5 lengths). I'd say he will stay further, he might improve going even up in trip so we'll probably give that a try next time.
"We might stick him into a big enough handicap chase off a low weight and see how it goes. He jumps brilliantly which wasn't always the way with him.
“Davy Condon rides him out at home every morning on his own because he is a difficult horse to ride and does a great job."
Quotes from Michael Graham
