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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Pixie comes from last to first

Fri 11th Jul 2014, 20:07

Pixie Spirit (left) comes home in front under Ana O'BrienPixie Spirit (left) comes home in front under Ana O'Brien
© Photo Healy Racing

Pixie Spirit came from last to first as he took the Navan Members Apprentice Handicap under Ana O’Brien for James Nash.

The chestnut four-year-old son of Namid has been a model of consistency this season and he hasn’t been out of the first three now on his last five starts.

Having finished just half a length second to Ucanchoose at Bellewstown last Saturday he was sent off at 3/1 this evening having touched 7/2 on-course.

In rear from the start he made progress on the outer from two furlongs out and was soon ridden.

He kept on strongly from over a furlong out, getting to the front with less than 150 yards to race before going on to score by a length and a quarter. Above The Law who attempted to make all, had to settle for second at 7/1 under Conor Hoban for Andrew Oliver, while La Canaada was a nose back in third under Connor King for Harry Rogers at 4/1 (backed from 11/2 on-course). Hi Empress was sent off the well-backed 11/4 favourite (opened at 4/1) but she could only manage a disappointing sixth under Keith Moriarty for Sean Hennessy.

James Nash said afterwards: "He was unlucky the last day. He was just too slow away.

"He tends to be a bit slow away and then finish off his races, but Bellewstown was that bit sharp for him.

"He deserves a small break now, he is after being busy. Hopefully if he gets an ease over five or six he will win another one.

"I think he will be better with a bit of an ease.

"It is great for his owner (Mary Hayes) and it is great and for Ana."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

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.