The win over the fast-finishing Bee Tee Junior, who he held off by a length, and Gobstopper, maintained the 9-year-old’s undefeated record in five starts over obstacles.

The gelding won Australia’s longest flat race, the Jericho Cup (4600m), last December before easily claiming the country’s longest race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at Warrnambool in May. He had also won the J.J. Houlahan Hurdle over 3200m last year.

Jockey Shane Jackson, who piloted Ablaze to his Grand Annual win, had the son of Raise The Flag in an excellent position throughout the Grand National Hurdle, with Maher praising the Irishman’s riding of the favourite:

“Shane really let him roll down the hill (from the 1000m) and use that weight advantage and his staying ability.”

Speaking after the win, the Wicklow rider said he believes Ablaze would be better suited to wet ground:

“The wet ground, he’ll probably be better again. He went well today but I think he’ll be more comfortable on the wet ground which we’ll get at Ballarat (for the Grand National Steeplechase). He likes the bigger fences, he jumps neatly. It’ll take a good one to beat him.”

Today’s win was another major victory for the Kiltegan jockey who has had much success in the past year. Jackson has won the National and the Grand Annual on Ablaze, as well as the Mosstrooper Steeplechase on Slowpoke Rodriguez and the Thackeray Steeplechase and Australian Steeplechase on Bit Of A Lad.

Joint-trainer of the winner, Ciaron Maher said of today’s victory:

“I get a great kick out of that. I’ve never won a Grand National Hurdle so it’s a big thrill. He’s very fit and he had the weight pull on the other horse so I thought we may as well use it – he was a bit lairy in front at a couple of the hurdles and you could see him flicking his ears so he looked like he was really enjoying himself.”

The New Zealand-bred Ablaze will now be aimed at Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat in three weeks’ time this month, as he bids for an achievement never before matched in Australian racing of winning the Grand Annual Steeplechase, the Grand National Hurdle and the Grand National Steeplechase in the one season.

His trainer has indicated he would love to campaign Ablaze towards the Aintree Grand National Steeplechase at Liverpool in 2021.

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Ablaze, trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, defeated two previous winners and remains unbeaten from four jumps starts, and becomes the first horse to claim Warrnambool’s marathon double, the Jericho Cup (4,600m) on the flat and the Grand Annual Steeplechase.

Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow-born Shane Jackson aboard the son of Raise The Flag made full use of his weight advantage over 5500 metres against Zed Em and Gold Medals, both of which had won the Grand Annual Steeplechase once each in the past two seasons.

The 33-year-old jockey admitted that winning the Grand Annual Steeplechase was the “pinnacle” of his career to date:

“He’s a good horse and he’s the star of the next few years. It’ll take a damn good one to come out and beat him. To have that one ticked off (the Grand Annual Steeplechase), it’s the race I’ve always wanted to win. I know there’s no crowds here, but it doesn’t matter, it’s such a thrill.”

Zed Em, under replacement jockey Arron Lynch, attempted to lead for the majority of the race, and while he negotiated the course of 33 obstacles faultlessly, with 7kg more than last year’s Jericho Cup winner Ablaze, Lynch’s mount couldn’t match the eventual winner for speed once the jumping had concluded.

Gold Medals got past the weakening Zed Em inside the final 150 metres to finish second, eight lengths behind Ablaze.

Ciaron Maher was full of praise for the Irish jockey, who moved to Australia in 2012, saying:

“They rolled along at a brilliant tempo. He is inexperienced so full credit to Shane Jackson. To win the Jericho and to come back in his third start over jumps to win a race like this is phenomenal. Full credit to my brother and the team at Ballarat and to Jacko (Shane Jackson).”

Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, indicated that Ablaze would campaign through the winter months and could be prepared for a title defence of the Jericho Cup, the 4600-metre flat race at Warrnambool restricted to Australasian-bred horses in November.

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