Dead Level another tasty priced winner for Murphy
The daugher of Anshan gave 19-year-old David Splaine his first winner and he is a son of former international showjumper and current chef d’equipe to the Irish team, Robert.
“John has been very good to me and that has been a long time coming”, commented the delighted teenager.
Splaine produced Dead Level between the final two fences to head Waki Baki and the mare crossed the line a snug two lengths to the good.
Said Murphy: “David gave her a smashing ride and she will probably go for another handicap now.”
When Foxy Gwynne stormed ahead for Fran Berry with less than two furlongs to run, in the first section of the BBQ Friday Handicap, she looked sure to score.
But Damasque finished with a real flourish and it took all of Berry’s strength to keep Foxy Gwynne in front to the line, the verdict a short head.
“I am thrilled to win a race with her and, please God, she might win again”, remarked in-form trainer, Pat Flynn.
He will have one runner at Royal Ascot next week, Worldly Wise in a handicap with Danny Grant in the plate.
Tony Mullins’ The Last Stand won the second division of the same race with a lot in hand.
Pushed into the lead by Rory Cleary approaching the turn in, The Last Stand eased away to score by an unflattering four lengths.
Said Mullins: “He will go for a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park at the end of the month. If he proves good enough then it will be the Galway Hurdle.”
Harry Rogers continued his terrific run when Mad Existence, the best backed horse in the contest, took the Outlier Fillies Race.
This was an unusual heat in that it was a winners’ race in which all the participants were actually maidens.
Amusing and Mad Existence fought it out through the final furlong, with Chris Hayes forcing his charge ahead close home to score by half a length.
Uneasy favourite Silk Dress again disappointed and was beaten well before the home turn. It subsequently transpired, however, that she was lame behind.
Curragh handler Eddie Harty enjoyed a turn when Eight Up, far from unbacked in the ring, grabbed the Monroe Handicap.
Colm O’Donoghue produced him to lead inside the furlong pole to beat the fast finishing El Cerro.
“I don’t know where the few quid came from, there was no pressure, I train this horse for my in-laws”, quipped Harty.
Khatiman was backed from 1-2 to 4-11 to win the four-runner Gone Away Race and delivered under a powerful Declan McDonogh drive.
He edged ahead at the two furlong pole, but had to be kept right up his work to hold Roundofapplause by a length and a quarter.
Joanna Morgan posted yet another winner when Whispering Wind and Andrew Duff took the Bumper.
Duff went for glory early in the straight and the late burst of Nina Carberry and the favourite, Cait Ni Chaonaigh, was always doomed to failure.
