Saker scores on handicap debut for Murtagh

The Johnny Murtagh trained and ridden, Flight Ofthe Saker took the Sligo Park Hotel Handicap on his first effort in handicap company.

The three-year-old son of Dynaformer was given a mark of 57 after three very poor efforts in maidens.

Sent off at 12/1 this evening, the Tan Kai Chah owned gelding, hit the front in the straight and he stayed on strongly in the closing stages to win comfortably by three and three parts of a length. Seismic ran a fine race to take second at 5/1 (10/1 this morning) under Connor King for John Murphy, while Regal Concorde (12/1) kept on late in the day to take third, three and a half lengths back under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld. Skimming Stone was the short priced 6/4 with Paddy Power this morning, but he drifted during the day, opening on-course at 4/1 before going off the 7/2 favourite under Fran Berry for John Murphy.

He was disputing the lead turning for home, but faded in the straight and finished a poor eighth. Guitar Pete was the gamble of the race for Dessie Hughes and Ronan Whelan. He was 25/1 this morning with Paddy Power, opening on track at 16/1 before being heavily supported into 13/2 at the off.

With a circuit to go he was struggling towards the rear, however he did plug on and finished fifth.

Johnny Murtagh said afterwards: “The blinkers helped and the mile and a half.

"He is a horse that has always had plenty of ability and the blinkers helped him concentrate tonight.

"Maybe we will turn him out again quickly."

The winner cost $80,000 US Dollars as a yearling at Keeneland.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee