Canny Keane steers Tam Lin to 'brilliant' win

Champion jockey Colin Keane was well-praised by successful trainer Danny Murphy at Dundalk today, as the pair combined to win the DundalkStadium.com Handicap with hitherto frustrating Tam Lin (16/5).

Six-time champion Keane - with a 33% record for Murphy, was in a three-way battle on frustrating seven-race maiden Tam Lin but opted to use his whip just once - at the furlong marker. Tam Lin responded well to Keane’s canny final-furlong hands-and-heels ride though, with the pair scoring by a neck from Endless Dawn

Murphy revealed "Tam Lin doesn't go for the stick so I said as soon as Colin Keane gets one ride on him, he’ll win. I thought he was beaten a furlong down but Colin got him back up: he's a brilliant jockey.”

He added “he's a grand, big horse who will progress from thatm although Dundalk is probably a bit firm here and he would want a little cut in the ground. There's plenty of hope and he'll be out early on the turf as soon as the grass opens.

He added "I'm sure my mother (winning owner) is beating the couch at home!”

Quotes from Michael Graham