THE Galway Blazers staged their rearranged fixture at Loughrea on Sunday last and the considerable crowd present witnessed some noteworthy performances, particularly that of debutant Lough Derg Leader (9/4-3/1 co-favourite) in the Emily Stanley five and six-year-old geldings maiden. Always travelling kindly in the hands of Steven Clements, the Pat Coffey-owned/trained five-year-old drew clear with fellow market-principal Glenforde as the field exited the back straight for the final time before eventually carrying the day from that rival by a length and a half.

The Nenagh, Co Tipperary-handler Coffey remarked of his Craigsteel gelding, who is a graduate of the 2011 Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale: “This is a gorgeous, big horse that we have always held in the highest regard. Steven was very happy with him and felt he’d have won by more only for inexperience. He’ll go to one of the sales now.”