Debut hurdles win for Eric Bloodaxe

Rachael Blackmore completed the third-leg of a four-timer at Naas today with Eric Bloodaxe (5/4f) in the BetVictor Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle, as the gelding scored for trainer Joseph O'Brien and owners Gigginstown House Stud.

Blackmore won today's opener for the same connections with Uhtred and having doubled her score on the Henry De Bromhead trained Captain Guinness also won with Gigginstown's Eric Bloodaxe which scored easily by eight lengths from Supreme Jet

Brendan Powell, representing trainer O'Brien, later said “he still looks big and I’m sure there is a lot to work on still. He’s a hard horse to get fit.

“Rachael said he was always in control. He had a blow but he was always going to win. She said he gives you a proper feel.

“She said he jumped unbelievable for a horse having his first run over hurdles. He’d done a lot of schooling last year.

“He’s not slow but I’d say two and a half miles is his minimum and he wouldn’t worry about softer ground. That drop of rain came right for him today.”

Following the race, Eric Bloodaxe was cut to 25/1 (from 40/1) for the Ballymore Novices Hurdle and to 16/1 (from 20s) for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, both at Cheltenham, with Paddy Power.

Blackmore later completed her four-timer with Mr Incredible

Quotes from Alan Magee