Blaze A Trail made the most of his starting position, from an original first place amongst the reserves, to take the Christmas Party Race Day Saturday 21st December Handicap Hurdle at Thurles.

Two in the original line-up, Hesamanofhisword (going) and Pat Coyne (going) had to miss out, and Liz Doyle’s Blaze A Trail (25s into 20s) took his opportunity well in the hands of Adam Short.

Front pair in the betting, and form horses, Stylish Moment and Something Sweet got closest, but they were two and a quarter lengths and three lengths down at the line.

Winner of this event in 2017, Broder finished fourth. None of them could quite get to grips with the all-the-way victor though.

The successful Morozov gelding seemed to enjoy dictating, back up in trip for his second handicap start.

At the request of the Stewards, D.G. Hogan, rider of Bua Boy trained by Denis Gerard Hogan, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount travelled well until hitting two hurdles in a row which cost him momentum and he then pulled wide onto the better ground which helped his mount finish out its race.

At the request of the Stewards, Rachael Blackmore, rider of Minella United (GB), trained by Henry de Bromhead, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that her mount ran and travelled well until the last where it emptied very quickly and finished very tired.

(TW & EM)