Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- Home
- News
Michael Graham
Marlpark dominates for Ryan and Fitzgerald
Marlpark an all-the-way winner
© Photo Healy Racing
Marlpark made all in the opening Crottys Lake Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel and had too much in the tank for odds-on-favourite Elusive Prince
Shane Fitzgerald sent Marlpark about his business from flagfall and the pair enjoyed a healthy advantage throughout this extended two-mile trip.
Elusive Prince and Darragh O'Keeffe closed right up on them two out, however, Marlpark found more racing to the final flight.
He wasn't for passing and sailed in by three lengths at 11/4 having been punted down from 13/2. The runner-up was returned the 4/6 favourite.
John Ryan said: "He has been disappointing up until now as we thought the world of him from the get-go.
"I bought him from Will Delaney as he is a half-brother to both Kilcarry Bridge and Kilashee (stablemates) and is out of a half-sister to Hear The Echo.
"He is a proper little horse and there's no reason he won't go forward now. Shane gave him a peach of a ride and really switched him off in front."
He added "He was running a huge race when falling at Fairyhouse - I'm not a huge fan of those new hurdles and I think he would have finished third then.
"What level this horse is at I'm not sure, but he'll probably go for a rated novice next."
Marlpark got off the mark at the eighth time of asking.
The jockeys wore black armbands in memory of a brother of ex-rider and current jockeys' valet Tom Reilly, who passed away yesterday.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes