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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Falcon flies to feature race success

Thu 24th Aug 2017, 18:02

Snow Falcon is ridden out by Colin KeaneSnow Falcon is ridden out by Colin Keane
© Photo Healy Racing

The well-backed Snow Falcon made all in the feature at Killarney this evening, the Laurels Pub & Restaurant Kingdom Gold Cup Handicap.

A dual Grade 2 winner over flights, the Noel Meade trained seven-year-old was last seen finished eighth of twelve in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in April.

Returning to the level for the first time since last October, the son of Presenting was available at 9/1 last night, touching 7/2 on-course before going off the clear favourite at 11/4.

Sent straight to the front by Colin Keane, the Patricia Hunt owned seven-year-old made all. He went a few lengths clear early in the straight, and was ridden a furlong and a half from home, keeping on well to score by two and three parts of a length.

The well-supported Bayan (33s last night and from 14s to 10s on-course) finished second under Wayne Lordan for Gordon Elliott, while Sea The Lion (7s to 11/2) was another length back in third for Ronan Whelan and Jarlath Fahey.

Keane said afterwards: "He's a proper hurdle horse. Noel said if nobody wanted to make it then let him roll along. I tried to stretch them turning in and he galloped the whole way to the line."

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.