Battling Hartani follows up

Winner of his maiden in heavy ground over course and distance three weeks ago, the John Oxx-trained Hartani followed-up when producing a gutsy front-running display in the opening Follow TipperaryRaces On Twitter Race at Tipperary last night, sparking a double for champion jockey Johnny Murtagh.

A grey son of Shirocco, Hartani made all and, despite showing signs of inexperience and apparently hanging at different stages, displayed a good attitude when tackled in the straight to beat Montebell by a length and a half.

Oxx’s assistant Jim O’Neill said of the Aga Khan-owned colt: “We were worried about the ground and he got away with it. But Johnny said he wouldn’t want it any faster. It was a good, tough, staying, performance from a progressive horse. He’s so switched off that he should get any trip. We’ll probably see what mark he gets before making plans for him.”