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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Formidable a fortunate winner at Killarney

Wed 16th Jul 2014, 19:44

Formidableopponent is left clear after Un Beau Roman crashed out at the last Formidableopponent is left clear after Un Beau Roman crashed out at the last
© Photo Healy Racing

Formidableopponent ran out a fortuitous winner of the Irish Examiner Beginners Chase scoring under Mark Walsh (replacing Paul Carberry who broke his collarbone at Killarney yesterday) for Noel Meade.

The well-backed 11/10 favourite (2/1 this morning and from 11/8 on-course) Un Beau Roman was clear and one the bridle approaching the last but he failed to take out his landing gear and crashed out under Paul Townend.

This left Formidableopponent in a clear lead and he kept on well on the run-in, winning easily by thirteen lengths. Raydari (25/1) finished second under Davy Condon for Rodger Sweeney while Sizing Sahara (8/1, was 4/1 this morning) was a further seven lengths back in third under Davy Russell for Henry De Bromhead.

Frank Berry, racing manager to winning owner JP McManus, said afterwards: "We had a bit of luck on our side. He jumped away well and he likes that ground. We will find a nice little handicap for him somewhere."

The winner, who won a point-to-point for Warren Ewing in March of 2011, was returned a 7/1 chance.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee