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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Friendless Warrior gets off the mark

Sun 29th Mar 2015, 15:05

The Warrior is ridden out by Ryan MooreThe Warrior is ridden out by Ryan Moore
© Photo Healy Racing

Despite being virtually friendless with punters The Warrior got off the mark on his fifth career start as he took the Big Bad Bob Maiden under Ryan Moore for Aidan O'Brien.

Available at 5/4 last night he opened on-course at 9/4, touching 3/1, before going off the market leader at 11/4.

Drawn near the rail in stall twenty-two he was settled in mid-division and was pushed along two furlongs out.

He made progress through the field from over a furlong out and came through to lead in the final 150 yards, going on to score by two and a half lengths.

Newcomer Mulkeyya finished second under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld at 4/1 while Creggs Pipes (25/1) was a further length back in third under Declan McDonogh for Andy Slattery.

Aidan O'Brien commented in the aftermath: "He'd good runs last year and was rated (106) to do that. You are never sure first time how they are. I usually come here thinking they are fit and find out that they aren't.

"It will be interesting to see how the other horses get on today. We have brought 63 horses to work after racing, and all the main three-year-olds are here. They will go in three groups with two groups of 23 and another of 20. They will all probably do a mile."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
11/4Fav
Tote €3.10 €1.20
2nd
2.5L
4/1
€2.50
3rd
1L
25/1
€8.00
4th
2.25L
50/1
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.