Blazing Bailey takes World Series Hurdle at Punchestown

Alan King’s Blazing Bailey ran out an impressive winner of the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle to follow up his success at Aintree.

The six-year-old, who finally beat his nemesis Inglis Drever at Liverpool, purely outstayed his rivals.

The likes of Venalmar, Catch Me and Cooldine all held major chances turning into the straight but dropped away one by one.

Robert Thornton was one of the first jockeys to pick up his stick but the 100-30 favourite kept on finding for pressure.

In the end it was last year’s winner Refinement who posed the biggest test, but Blazing Bailey gamely ran all the way to the line to win by seven lengths, with Aitmatov third.

King said: ``Choc (Thornton) said it was hard work today, but he wasn't seeing much light down the inside.

“I was a bit worried turning in, but he went and powered away and that is just him.

“He is a little grinder and is a marvellous horse to train. He is very special.

“He has never let me down all the way through. People keep saying to me that he isn’t a Cheltenham horse, but he has a fair record around there.

“I don’t think it matters where you take him as he won’t let you down.

“He has only has one bad run first time out and to this day I don’t know what went wrong at Cheltenham. I got it wrong making the running with him at Newbury, but he hasn’t looked back since then.

“We have bumped into Inglis Drever a couple of times and we know we can’t beat him when he is in top form, but this is a special day.

“I went to look at him at evening stables yesterday and he looked amazing so he is a horse who can take his racing.

“Until we know that he can’t be competitive in these races then he won’t jump a fence. He is only six and there is no rush.

“The blinkers will come off, certainly for is first run back next season, as I am not convinced about the blinkers.”