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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Blues Emperor brings up brace for Murtagh and Coen

Sun 21st May 2023, 17:54

Blues Emperor in full cryBlues Emperor in full cry
© Photo Healy Racing

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

1st
2/1Fav
Tote €3.00 €1.10
2nd
0.75L
14/1
€5.40
3rd
Dht
9/1
€1.20
3rd
shd
13/2
€.80
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.