Blues Emperor brings up brace for Murtagh and Coen Blues Emperor's big white face came home to good effect in the mile handicap that rounded out Naas' card. This winner made it a brace on the card for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen after Ladies Church's success earlier. Coen and Blues Emperor unleashed their challenge on the inner and raced past Red Heel on the run to the final furlong. The 2/1 favourite increased his lead inside the final furlong and was kept up to his work to account for staying-on Navagio (14/1) by three-parts of a length. Facethepuckout (13/2) was a fast-finishing third. Murtagh said: “That was great, he's a bonny little horse. He ran really well the last day because he would have needed the run a little bit on that ground. “Today we were wondering would he handle this better ground. He's very genuine and tough. “It's a pleasure to have horses for the owners, they are lovely people and I rode winners for them when I was with John Oxx as an apprentice. It's great to get a horse like this for them. “Hopefully he'll be able to be a premier handicap horse because he's very genuine. A mile is probably a good trip for him. “He handled the ground but he'll probably be better with a bit more ease. “He did the same in Listowel, when he got on the rail he doesn't let them get past." Additional reporting by Gary Carson
