Murphy & Keane double-up with Taken

Newcomer Point Taken completed a double at Dundalk for John Murphy and Colin Keane, as he just prevailed in the www.dundalkstadium.com Maiden.

Murphy was earlier on the mark with Aubineau and was completing a 103/1 brace here, while Keane struck aboard Excelecius in second.

Available at 16s this morning, and backed from 14s to 12s on-course, Point Taken broke slowly, and raced towards rear under Keane.

He was pushed along on the outer from early in the straight, and was ridden to challenge with over a furlong left to race.

The successful son of Papal Bull had a good battle with Dawn Trouper inside the final furlong, and just a short head separated them at the line.

The runner-up was returned at 5/2 under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger, while fellow 5/2 chance Intermedia was another length and a half back in third.

The 15/8 favourite Laajidaal finished fourth.

"He's a lovely big horse and is plenty raw," said Keane.

"He cantered down to the start like a lovely big horse to be fair to him.

"You'd imagine he'll improve a lot and he had to do it the hard way coming from well off them.

"He could be a nice dual purpose horse next year. He's big and scopey so he could jump a hurdle. I'd say there could be a lot of improvement left in him still."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson