Rosin Box wins well under Keane for Murphy

John Murphy took the Killarney Avenue/Munster Joinery Handicap for the third time in the last four years, as his Rosin Box ran out a comfortable victor on her debut in handicap company.

Well-beaten on her debut at the Curragh last year, the daughter of New Approach was a close-up fifth of five on her second start at Listowel last month.

She since finished down the field at Naas, and was available at 22/1 in a place this morning.

The Thomas Keithley owned bay did come in for plenty of market support however, touching 15/2 on-course before going off a 7/1 chance.

Settled in mid-division by Colin Keane, she made progress into fourth three furlongs out, and was ridden to challenge on the outer with over a furlong to race.

She hit the front inside the final 150 yards, and kept on strongly from there, going on to score by three and a quarter lengths. Path Of Silver kept on to take second under Seamie Heffernan for Dick Brabazon at 10/1, while Take A Drop (16/1) was a further half a length back in third under Gary Halpin for Pat Martin. Emily Square was the big gamble of the race. She was available at 20/1 last night but was well-backed throughout the day, opening on-course at 6's before going off the 9/2 favourite.

She raced in rear under Shane Foley and was doing her best work towards the finish, staying on well into a never nearer fourth.

John Murphy said afterwards: "We were very close to pulling her out as we thought it might be a bit gluey for her. He (Keane) said she handled the ground really well though.

"She got hampered at Listowel when she might have been third.

"It was a fine moderate contest and we'll look for something similar next."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes