Blackwell outstays rivals Blackwell Synergy, runner-up to Bundle Of Fun at the Listowel Festival, went one better again over a stamina sapping three miles in the Graham Norris Memorial Handicap Hurdle. Clear championship leader Davy Russell produced the five-year-old gelding to join Datokepe (11/2) at the second last and, after the pair came close together on the stands' side between the final two flights, the 9/2 favourite quickly asserted on the run-in to beat that rival ultimately quite cosily by half a length. Ros Brin (16/1) finished another two and a half lengths back in third, with long-time leader Bean Chroi Bhriste in fourth. Winning trainer John Supple said, “He won nicely first time out at Tipperary but lost his way a bit after that. He ran a blinder at Listowel the last day, and he's learning and improving all the time. We should have some fun with him in staying hurdles over the winter.”
