18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

All the way win for Wicklow Lad

Sun 10th Mar 2013, 16:10

Wicklow Lad & Paddy Kennedy on their way to victoryWicklow Lad & Paddy Kennedy on their way to victory
© Photo Healy Racing

Wicklow Lad put in a game front running display to land the Panoramic Restaurant for Mother's Day Handicap Hurdle for Paddy Kennedy and Francis Flood.

The grey 9yo son of Silver Patriarch had five wins to his name before today and he ran well last time out at Navan to finish third behind Edmundo.

Sent off at 6/1 he made all and despite the field closing on him as they turned into the straight, he pulled out more and went on to score by two and a half lengths at the line. Forever Gold (11/2) stayed on well on the run-in to snatch second under Paul Carberry for Eddie Cawley while Peinora (9/1) was a short head back in third under Martin Burke for double seeking Tim Doyle. Smart Money was sent off the 11/4 favourite under Davy Russell for Jim Culloty but he could only manage a disappointing eighth.

Francis Flood Junior said afterwards: "He showed on his last two runs with the blinkers on that he was coming back to some kind of form.

"He is maybe getting a bit too complacent. His Thurles run was promising and then he ran a cracker at Navan.

"I’m delighted he won here today and he might go back jumping fences now.

"There is a possibility of going for a good chase with him and it was just a matter of him finding form. He was one of the favourites for the Troytown (in 2011) but the ground didn’t really suit him."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
6/1
Tote €9.40 €1.70
2nd
2.5L
11/2
€2.50
3rd
shd
9/1
€2.70
bf
2.25L
11/4Fav
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.