Double keeps Murtagh’s slim title hopes alive

REIGNING champion Johnny Murtagh kept his slim chance of retaining the jockeys’ title alive with a double on Imperial Rome and Herostatus at Dundalk last night, but still trails Pat Smullen by six, 86-92, following the former champion’s win on Hawa Bali in the finale.

On a night when each of the protagonists in the race for the apprentice crowm was on the mark, with Jospeh’s O’Brien registering a double, Murtagh kicked-off when making all on Imperial Rome in the second division of the one mile two-year-old maiden.

Murtagh dictated the pace on the son of Holy Roman Emperor and, gradually winding up the tempo from the two furlong-pole, always had the measure of promising debutant Narjawa, ironically owned by the Aga Khan, for whom he’ll ride next season, with the even-money favourite Long Live The King (Joseph O’Brien) finishing third, without being able to deliver a realistic challenge.