Blackthorn Prince (left) and Trade Marked are in the air together at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Blackthorn Prince completed a hat-trick in three-mile handicaps when justifying favouritism in the www.grahamnorris.com Memorial Handicap Hurdle, and in the process provided Barry Geraghty with a double on the day at Clonmel.
The Enda Bolger-trained gelding, who also won a point-to-point at Cragmore earlier this year, started his winning run over hurdles at Ballinrobe in August and followed up over this course and distance last month.
The well-backed 2/1 favourite challenged before two out and, while Trade Marked appeared the more likely winner jumping the last, the J P McManus-owned winner found much more under pressure on the run-in.
Three quarters of a length separated the pair at the line to supply Geraghty, successful earlier on Mick Jazz with his double. Kilkishen was a further five lengths away in third.
Bolger said, "It's great to win three in a row with any horse and there's another one of these here again at the next meeting. It's 0-140 and over three miles and he likes the course.
"He's a good battler and the ground is a big help to him so we'll leave going chasing until after Christmas."
(TW & AM)
