O'Keeffe wins Ulster National on 21st birthday

Darragh O'Keeffe won the Randox Ulster National Handicap Chase on the day of his 21st birthday at Downpatrick today as the jockey steered bottom weight Fag An Bealach to win the €50,000 race for trainer Arthur Moore.

The seven year old daughter of Stowaway had previously won her beginners chase at the venue in October and today scored under 10st5lbs, when beating Flinck by nine lengths.

Moore, who failed to win a race in the curtailed 2019/20 season, was today recording a ninth win this term and his last three runners have all won.

The former Champion Trainer subsequently reported “this is a great day. I rode the winner in my time for Willie Rooney the grandfather of my son-in-law and previously trained the winner.

“I was half keeping her for the three mile novice handicap in Navan and she didn't get in and we are probably lucky because this race suited her very well and the ground was perfect for her.

"This was her first time over further than 2m4f, her dam is a half-sister to Niche Market an Irish National winner, so there was no reason why she wouldn't stay.

"She is only a seven-year-old, so it is all in front of her and I'm delighted for the Beresfords and Athene Keatinge as they have been very loyal supporters all along.”

The trainer also paid tribute to his longest owner: "Tim Murray died a week ago and he was my first owner and had him every year since then until now. I was very sad but I'm sure he was helping us from above. He was a great friend."

Quotes from Michael Graham