Murtagh takes Group 2 Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes for the second time

Local trainer Johnny Murtagh won the Group 2 Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes for the second time as a trainer with Hanalia, having saddled Belle De Crecy to score in 2013 in his first season with a licence.

He was in the plate himself on that occasion but this time around, it was Shane Foley that was on board The Aga Khan daughter of Sea The Stars, with stable jockey Ben Coen recuperating from surgery on a broken collarbone suffered at Naas eight days ago.

Moore made the running on Wingspan but in much more controlled fashion than was the case with Bedtime Story and he had them all in trouble as one by one, eventual third Purple Lily, Rogue Millennium and Caught U Looking took their shots.

But it was Foley who held the aces, launching a withering run from the back of the field to hit the front and then keep the rallying Wingspan at bay by a neck.

“The little bit of rain last night and the extra furlong, we were coming here quietly confident,” Murtagh revealed.

“There’s a lot of good fillies in Ireland at the moment and I just had the feeling today was going to be the day for her. I knew she came home well.

“(Shane) is not slow. He sent me a voice message straight away after Ben got injured last week: ‘If you need me for anything over Champions Festival.’ He gave her a great ride. She needs to be settled early. She’s keen and if you put her in the race early, she can get up on the bridle so I told him the more relaxed she is, the better she’ll finish.

“A Group 2 winner on Irish Champions Festival, it’s important for me and for His Highness The Aga Khan as well. You want to be involved, you want to be competitive. They’re hard won and we’ll see can she go on and we’ll have to give her a shot at a Group 1 next.”