Blue Lord team bid for another Arkle double Connections are hopeful Blue Lord can tread the same path as Footpad and complete and the Irish-English Arkle double following victory at Leopardstown on Saturday. The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was one of six Grade One winners for the Closutton handler at the Dublin Racing Festival over the weekend. The Paul Townend-ridden Blue Lord had to survive a stewards’ inquiry after his half-length victory over Riviere D’Etel in the Irish Arkle Novices’ Chase. The pair came close on a couple of occasions in a thrilling finish to the two-mile contest but after deliberations, the result stood. Blue Lord remains unbeaten in three starts over fences and retained his place at the head of the market at a general 5-2 for the Arkle on March 15. Anthony Bromley, co-founder of Highflyer Bloodstock and racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, feels the gelding still has a bit to learn. “Simon and Isaac were really pleased to be there to witness him win a first Grade One,” said Bromley. “Paul Townend felt he was idling a bit up the run-in and was still a bit green. “He seems fine after the race and all roads lead to the Cheltenham Arkle. “The owners won the Irish Arkle with Footpad (2018) and he went on to win the English Arkle. While Footpad was more impressive than Blue Lord, the one thing Blue Lord has in his favour is that he is lightly raced and still learning. “He still has a tendency to race a bit keenly and I’d say there is still more room for improvement. “I think the horse is getting better and you wouldn’t swap him for anything else in the race, but equally, with Ferny Hollow ruled out through injury, it is a wide-open renewal. “He is a lovely big, scopey horse, who has done nothing wrong and his future is very much in front of him. It was very exciting, but that long stewards’ inquiry was not good for the heart!”
