Flame Bearer burns off rivals for the Doyles

The father and son team of Pat and Jack Doyle teamed up to take the Grade 2 BetVictor Novice Hurdle with Flame Bearer at Naas this afternoon.

The Fame And Glory gelding won a Fairyhouse maiden in good style last month and was sent off the evens favourite here against four rivals.

Ha D’or, who won the other division of that aforementioned Fairyhouse maiden, set the pace in this two-mile event but was headed by the winner just before the final flight.

Flame Bearer was far from fluent at the last but kept on well on the run-in to score by two-and-a-half lengths. Meet And Greet finished off well to take the runner-up spot, with Ha D’or a further two-and-a-half lengths back in third.

Pat Doyle said, "He was very fresh and unfit the first day he ran this season because we had no ground to gallop him on and was then a little unlucky here. He is now doing what we thought he would do.

"Jack believes he is a two-mile horse but he didn't get him pulled up until halfway down the back, so I'd say he is a 2m4f horse. But we'll stick with Jack's opinion for the moment and he'll go to Fairyhouse (Grade 2 novice hurdle on April 3).

"The plan was always this race and Fairyhouse and we'll see about Punchestown then. It is working out so far.

"He is bred to get a mile, being out of a Docksider mare but when I saw him at the Derby Sale, I couldn't come home without him - he had the biggest walk I have ever seen in a horse and I love Fame And Glorys. He'll make a lovely chaser.

"This course has been lucky for me and I've won two Grade 3s and one Grade 2 here."

(TW & AM)