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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Colreevy another impressive winner for Townend & Mullins

Tue 24th Nov 2020, 13:35

Colreevy and Paul Townend pictured on their way to victoryColreevy and Paul Townend pictured on their way to victory
© Photo Healy Racing

Colreevy ran out an impressive winner of the Ballymore Group Rated Novice Chase, on what was her racecourse debut over fences.

Having fell on her sole point-to-point start way back in March of 2017, the daughter of Flemensfirth has achieved plenty since, winning the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Punchestown Festival in 2019.

Last seen finishing fifth in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, the Willie Mullins trained seven-year-old was expected to return to winning ways this afternoon.

Sent off the 13/8 favourite under Paul Townend, the daughter of Flemensfirth was always prominent and held a definite advantage from three out.

She stretched clear before the final fence and came home fifteen lengths to the good having jumped well throughout. Popong (25/1) kept on to take second under Hugh Morgan for Henry de Bromhead, while The Big Dog (12/1) was a further twelve lengths back in third.

Townend said afterwards: "The trip was ideal, she handled the ground well and she jumped great. There was plenty of carnage behind me and I was able to stay out of trouble.

"Her form speaks for itself. She's a big mare and chasing will be her game."

The winner is owned and bred by the Flynn family who have enjoyed plenty of success with numerous good horses over the years.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

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.