Lyons/Murtagh win Birdcatcher

Johnny Murtagh was at his best when winning the feature race at Naas this afternoon, the Derrinstown Stud EBF Birdcatcher Premier Nursery aboard the Ger Lyons trained Beat Surrender

Murtagh made all on the son of Bertoloni and kept on well to hold off the fast finishing Moonreach by the narrowest of margins.

Shane Lyons brother of the winning trainer said afterwards: “The Birdcatcher is the number one race for Ger he absolutely loves this race and he’ll be delighted he won it.”

“The blinkers really perked him up today and he showed he had plenty of Speed in York and this was always the plan and it all worked out well to make it even more sweeter.”

“He’s a lovely big framed horse and he’s going to make a lovely three year old.”

Johnny Murtagh is now only one winner behind Pat Smullen for the Jockeys Title.