Murray opens Listowel account with Gold Speed

Adrian Murray fulfilled a long-held ambition to train a winner at Listowel when Gold Speed landed the M J Carroll ARRO Handicap Hurdle this afternoon.

The ten-year-old son of Gold Well has suffered his fair share of injuries in the past but connections have been able to get a good run with him over the past 12 months and he bridged a three-year gap without a win to record a fourth career victory here.

Sean Flanagan ’s mount jumped to the front at the final flight in this 2m4f event and the 17/2 shot kept on well to beat the staying on Bugs Moran by three quarters of a length with topweight Buddy One the same distance further back in third.

Murray said, “As a young horse he showed a lot of potential and he’s after coming back off three career threatening injuries.

“I’ve never had a winner in Listowel before and I’ve had plenty of seconds and thirds over the past 15 years.

“He was in earlier in the week and I didn’t run him because of the ground. I knew he was real well coming here and on the back of the run in Galway, I was expected a big run.

“Everything is a bonus with him now and luckily the last year and a half he’s been very good. We don’t over race him and we keep him fresh.”

The Westmeath trainer recorded his first Group 1 winner with Bucanero Fuerte in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last month.