Longclaw toughs it out again from the front

Longclaw recorded his second win this year when making virtually all in the Friday Night Lights Are Back At Dundalk Apprentice Handicap.

The Kitten’s Joy gelding completed a hat-trick in juvenile hurdles for Gordon Elliott but has been through a list of yards since without success until scoring twice after joining Pat Murphy this summer.

The 15/2 chance adopted regular front-running tactics but was driven along early in the straight by Jamie Powell.

S’all Good Man threw down a persistent challenge in the straight but Longclaw got on top in the closing stages to score by three quarters of a length with Luke Short keeping on well the same distance further back in third.

Murphy said, He was lazy going around but he likes to save a good bit for himself. Jamie said when they came to him he found and found and found. He was getting it done anyway.

"There was one coming with a wet sail in Roscommon and he wasn't going to pick up again and just got caught on the line. That's the way it goes and at least he made up for it there.

"He's lazy going around, but he's genuine when it comes down to the fight. He was just behind the bridle the whole way. We will probably actually step up to two miles here now. He will jump a hurdle again.

"He'll be rated 80 plus now and would be one of the best horses I have now in the yard, so it is nice to have him. It is nice to have a consistent horse like that."

Quotes by Michael Graham