Murtagh has the power at Leopardstown

Johnny Murtagh recorded his first treble as a trainer at Leopardstown last month, and enjoyed further success at the Foxrock venue when Lethal Power landed the Clayton Hotel Leopardstown Handicap. Theobald appeared to have most of his rivals well stretched when quickening off the home bend but Lethal Power kept on strongly inside the final furlong to add to a Roscommon maiden win earlier this season.

The Shane Foley-ridden 4/1 chance had a length and a quarter to spare at the line, with Bucky Larson a further three lengths back in third.

Murtagh said, “I think the mile and a quarter at the Curragh just stretched his stamina the last day and we made a bit too much use of him. Today over a mile was great. He thought he was going to have to make the running but when Kevin (Manning, on Theobald) went on it gave him a nice pace.

“A strong run mile looks like it suits him and he is learning. He’s a bit of a baby and he’s still not just with it yet so hopefully it will all click into gear with him.

“He’s bred to be a nice horse and he always worked like a half decent horse. Hopefully he can keep progressing up through the handicap ranks.

“You don’t mind them going up when they are winning but it’s when they are getting beaten and still going up. Hopefully he can make up into a Premier Handicap horse.”