Murtagh's Beat completes treble in Curragh's finale

The Johnny Murtagh trained Urban Beat returned from his summer holidays when completing a hat-trick of wins in the concluding John Sisk & Son New Stand Handicap at the Curragh today, scoring under jockey Shane Foley.

The son of Red Jazz was an ease-ground winner in April, at Navan, and in May, at this same venue, but while he didn't race in June, July or August, was today produced in excellent health to score a half length win over Blairmayne

Afterwards Murtagh said “it was a good performance. He was off a while because we just couldn't run him on the firm ground and this was a lovely race.

“He's in two nice races coming up; he has the big sprint at the Curragh or could also run at Ayr. If the ground is too fast here we'll probably go to Ayr but I'd say the ground is going to be lovely for him from now on.

“We just had such a dry summer and we minded him as he's still a big baby.

I think he can go a long way in the sprinting ranks and 'Dusty' (Foley) said he is learning how to sprint the whole time.

“The other horse (tenth placed Guessthebill also ran very well and we were very happy with him. They are two nice horses. Guessthebill had a little bit of an injury but he's on the way back.”

Quotes from Gary Carson