Alphecca and Lady Lilac deliver Killarney double for Murphy and Carroll
Runners and riders break from starting stalls with Alphecca and Gary Carroll (red) going on to win for trainer Joe Murphy
Trainer Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll combined for an early double with favourites Alphecca and Lady Lilac in Killarney, the final meeting of 2025 in County Kerry.
Third last time in Naas, Alphecca, a Sioux Nation filly, ran out a five lengths winner of the opening two-year-old maiden, scooting clear midway up the straight to beat Honouramongthieves.
“She had a good run last time and did it well,” stated Carroll, “Chris (Hayes) had me well covered but and I had to work to get out, but she quickened really well through the well and got to the line well. She’ll be a nice filly next year.”
The double was completed in similarly straight-forward fashion when 2/9 shot Lady Lilac, in the frame in each of her eight starts and runner-up the last twice, belatedly and deservedly got off the mark in the Muckross Lake Median Auction Maiden, drawing clear to slam Green Kite by five and a half lengths, to the delight of her owner-breeder Brendan Quinn.
Carroll commented, “She tries very hard and has been consistent and it’s unfortunate that she hadn’t won before now. There’s not a whole lot of her, but if she strengthens and improves over the winter, we’ll have fun with her next season.”
Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan struck with their only runner, Gifted, in first-time cheekpieces, in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
The Wootton Basset filly made all and stayed on strongly to foil a gamble on Forthill, prompting Lordan to explain, “She had good runs around Bellewstown and Galway. But she loved this track and winged around it. The cheekpieces helped her concentrate. She saves a bit and stays well, so there might be a bit more to come from her.”
A three-time bumper winner, including at Grade 2 level, the Paddy Twomey-trained mare Seo Lin made it fifth time lucky on the flat when, sent off 4/9 favourite, she romped to victory in the Killarney Races Final Farewell To 2025 Maiden, scoring by eight and a half lengths.
Winning rider Billy Lee, who was completing a double, having won earlier on Spanish Temptress, stated, “They went a nice even gallop and she travelled away well and picked-up when I gave her a squeeze. Slower ground helps and Paddy might target a handicap with her before he looks for a bit of black type.”
Meanwhile, the season’s leading rider Darragh O’Keeffe struck again in Tipperary, partnering Henry de Bromhead’s Ace Brannigan to outpoint market rival Letos in the Donohue Marquees Maiden Hurdle.
“He’s been doing everything nicely at home,” said O’Keeffe, “He should come on plenty and is a nice prospect.”
Former champion Jack Kennedy was on the mark in the opening mares maiden hurdle when newcomer Getaway Beo (15/8) outpointed stable-companion Clarnagh Maid.
A fall at the second last by favourite Sceptred Isle handed the Tipperary Town Handicap Hurdle to Brendan Walsh’s eleven-year-old mare Romella and Phillip Enright.
Watchful Protector (6/1) took the WTW Willis Maiden Hurdle at the expense of King Jon Oliver for Donagh Meyler and Emmet Mullins whose Garahon was sent off favourite for the bumper but failed to cope with Harry Kelly’s State Pension, another winner for in-form Adam Ryan.
And trainer John Ryan received a timely boost when Flidais (Michael Kenneally) ran out a clear-cut winner of the Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel Handicap Hurdle, slamming Mickey Cohen.
