Blazing raises the tempo enough to see off rivals

Classy mare Blazing Tempo registered her ninth career success and sparked a double for champion trainer Willie Mullins and owner Susannah Ricci when justifying even-money favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms Mares Hurdle at Kilbeggan’s final meeting of 2012 last evening.

The eight-year-old, whose most notable win came in last year’s Galway Plate, had to dig deep under Emmet Mullins to hold Annie Other and Definite Class by a couple of necks.

The winning rider admitted: “The Galway Hurdle was a complete write-off and two miles and three today was short enough for her. She wasn’t travelling early in today’s race, but she jumped great, which was a big help. She got a great leap at the second last, stuck her head out and battled to the line.”