Bunyan eyes big pots for Elzaam Blue

Darren Bunyan has a horse of some potential on his hands as Elzaam Blue made it two from two in Dundalk in the concluding mile handicap.

The four-year-old Elzaam gelding struck the front on the approach to the final furlong from free-running Punk Poet and was driven out by Chris Hayes to keep the opposition at bay.

He won by three quarters of a length from Adapt To Dan (8/1) with Zahee (25/1) a neck back in third.

Bunyan said: “He did that well again. The main worry we had coming up with him, we don't doubt his ability, but it was lack of experience against good, seasoned handicappers as that's always going to put you on the back foot straight away.

“We had seen a huge improvement in him since the last day and he's going to improve a ton again from this tonight.

“He's a smart horse going forward. He won his maiden first time without seeing the surface before and he's run there tonight against seasoned handicappers and they are not easy to beat at the best of times.

“Even when you have your three runs and a handicap mark they aren't easy to beat, most horses get found wanting in their first handicap but this lad coasted around tonight. He has a big future.

“He'll run beforehand to get a bit more experience into him but there are a couple of big pots on Guineas and Derby weekend, a couple of very nice handicaps, that I think he's made for.

“It depends on what happens with him later on but he'd be a horse that I would have part of my team for Dubai next year. He's definitely a horse for that area.”

The Stewards interviewed C. Horgan, rider of Dedillon concerning the fact that he appeared to move across before reaching the marker poles. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned, who accepted that he was in breach of Rule 211. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that C. Horgan was in breach of Rule 211(a) in that he had failed to ride in a straight line until reaching the marker poles. Having taken his previous record in this regard into account, the Stewards suspended C. Horgan for 1 raceday.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson