Hayes had read the script as Blyton prevails

Not beaten far in fourth on his previous start at Roscommon, Blyton (6/1) registered his first win on Irish soil in the first division of the Seamus Murphy Memorial Handicap.

Three times a winner for Tom Dascombe as a juvenile, the son of Kodiac was rated 92 on his first start in this country in 2019. Here, off 62, he wore down the gambled-on front-runner Chagall (40s into 12/1 on the show) in the final furlong to just get the better of that one by a head. Beleaguerment (12/1) was a length and three quarters further away in third.

The winner had shown a liking for this venue when third and fifth on previous visits to ‘The Hill’ this year.

Jim Gorman, assistant to winning trainer Luke Comer, said: “He’s been unlucky a good few times and even today he didn’t hit the road properly. He deserved it and will win again off that mark.

“That’s his ideal trip — a sharp mile or seven furlongs.”

Quotes from Alan Magee