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Emily Blazes a trail in opener

Blazing Emily and Paul TownendBlazing Emily and Paul Townend
© Photo Healy Racing

Blazing Emily proved too hot to handle for her rivals as she made all to land the opening Jet O'Carroll Memorial EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle at Listowel this afternoon.

The Willie Mullins-trained filly was a well backed 4/5 favourite in the two-and-a-half mile contest, having been 5/2 in the morning, and Paul Townend kept things simple on the hotpot.

She was asked for an effort going to the second last and despite pecking at the back of the flight she soon asserted.

The daughter of Presenting kept on strongly over the last to record a four-and-a-quarter length victory over 25/1 shot Sand Fly

Blazing Emily won a bumper at Ballinrobe back in May and was most recently seen chasing home the smart Rocket Lad at Galway.

Townend said:- “Every time something came to her it helped. The only fright was at the second last but she went and jumped the last well. She gallops and she jumps.

“I blame myself at the second last for not keeping the revs up on her. I think she’ll improve and stay further.

“If I had a bit more company it would have made her run a bit sweeter. She was taking in everything in front.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.