The Gordon Elliott-trained Blow By Blow was left to come home a wide-margin winner of the Grade 3 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.

The Gigginstown gelding won the Grade 1 bumper at Punchestown back in April 2016 but had failed to hit those heights over hurdles this season.

He took his maiden hurdle on the third attempt at Navan in December but was then well held in Grade 1 company at Naas last month.

Sent to post a 7/1 shot today he was held up behind the leaders by Rachael Blackmore before being driven up to challenge stable-mate Roaring Bull entering the straight.

The Robin Des Champs gelding got on top before the final flight and was pulling away from that rival when he crashed out at the final flight.

Blow By Blow eventually ran out a 14-length winner from his other stable-mate in the race, Gun Digger Not Many Left was sent off the 15/8 favourite but after making the running came under pressure jumping the fourth last and was headed at the next. He faded turning for home to finish fourth.

"The horse ran for Rachael and she is the first one to get a tune out of him this year, so it's great,” said Elliott.

"He's a big horse and is a Grade 1 winner so has plenty of ability.

"That's Rachael's first winner for me and she's in one morning a week for the past couple of weeks and the horses run for her so we're lucky to have the likes of herself, Lisa (O'Neill), Nina (Carberry) and Katie (Walsh) as they are a great bunch of girls in Ireland.

"He might go to Cheltenham for something next - he's in the Martin Pipe, Albert Bartlett and all those races."

It was a first success in a graded race for Blackmore.

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)