In like Flint: trainer finds key to Blaze

WE have an additional fixture at Ffos Las this Saturday (September 10).

It has been transferred from Bath where the ground is currently unfit for racing.

The first race is off at 1.20pm and the last at 4.49pm. Tickets are just £10 in advance and £15 on the day. The card features the £25,000 Summer Series Stayers’ Final. Our final flat fixture of the year is on Sunday, September 25.

The John Flint-trained Blaze A Trail completed a hat-trick of wins at Stratford on Saturday.

When his current owners bought him little more than a year ago, it was apparent that he was well named, having a big white face and a headstrong nature. He started breaking blood vessels, and after pulling up at Exeter in October was given time off.

His first run back in May saw him pulled up again, but this was due to a short-term lung infection. A corner was turned when a hood was tried, calming down the horse in the preliminaries, and dramatic improvement was forthcoming.

Three wins in five weeks are a testament to Flint, who trains in Kenfig Hill. Connor Brace has been on board each time.

Also on the Stratford card, Robert Stephens was on the mark with Turpin Gold, who has been knocking on the door in bumpers and novice hurdles.

Despite failing to settle early, he was a comfortable six-length winner. It was the Penhow trainer’s first success over obstacles for a year, but he doesn’t have as many jumpers as he used to.

The yard has had seven winners on the flat in that period, three of them coming at Lingfield last winter with Melakaz. Back from a 202-day absence on Friday, he ran a pleasing second at Haydock.

David Probert got Urban Sprawl home in a desperately close finish to an Ascot nursery at the weekend. He led some way out and kept on gamely when challenged on both sides. He held on by a nose to record his third win.

David Evans’s Rohaan was third in the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, which is his best placing at the top level.

He received a bump early on and never threatened to win, though he had nine top-class sprinters behind him.

Six furlongs may be sharp enough for him now, but he has to have a go at the Champions Day sprint next month at Ascot.

His odds for that range between 8-1 and 14-1.