'It's all down to Midge' - John Blackburn full of praise for trainer after Spring Is Sprung lands £100,000 bonus

There cannot be too many people who would be as calm and collected when on the verge of winning £100,000 as owner John Blackburn was at Haydock on Sunday.

If his Spring Is Sprung came home in front in the 5f handicap, Blackburn would pocket the six-figure bonus for his horse being the first to win three races during this year’s SkyBet Sunday Series.

“It’s all down to Midge,” Blackburn said, referencing the six-year-old’s trainer Paul Midgley when asked about his chances pre-race. Given what happened a few minutes later, his sangfroid became immediately understandable.

Drawn against the near-side rail, Spring Is Sprung travelled effortlessly under jockey Jason Hart, while Night On Earth made the running. When Hart asked, Spring Is Sprung responded and on the line the bonus was landed emphatically.

Winning connections of Spring Is SprungCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Blackburn, who has increased his involvement in racing since selling his luxury kitchen worktops business in 2022, is no stranger to big-race success having been involved with the likes of Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Move In Time and last year’s Windsor Castle Stakes scorer Ain’t Nobody.

“The first thing Jason has said to me is there’s plenty in the tank,” Blackburn said. “Midge has done a fantastic job with him.”

Big day for Morland

Jack Morland secured the biggest victory of his nascent training career when Gaassee stormed clear to win the 1m2½f apprentice handicap by three and a half lengths.

Owned by Julie and Charlie Rosier and ridden by Taryn Langley, Gaassee was winning for the first time since May 2022 after joining Morland, who sent out his first runners last November, at the end of last year.

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