Insignia Of Rank in charge© Photo Healy Racing
Joe Murphy sportingly bowed to the Flat Handicapper's better judgement at Limerick today as his Insignia Of Rank easily won the Limerick On Facebook Munster Mile Handicap, despite shouldering a hefty looking penalty incurred for winning at Tipperary on Sunday.
The son of Equalette incurred a 12lbs ratings hike for a shock 33/1 win, as a reserve, at Tipperary but today the gelding, again under jockey Andrew Slattery, dismissed that minor detail when romping home by Sunday's exact same winning margin of three and a quarter lengths, over runner-up Shatharaat
Murphy's horses have returned to form in recent weeks and later the Co Tipperary based trainer quipped “I did initially think the handicapper was severe on him but what can you you do now only admit mea culpa!”
He added “normally you wouldn't run them back to back so quickly but he was so well during the week that we said we'd take another chance.
“He was second at Dundalk and I think ground makes no difference to this horse. We'll have to step up now to a Premier Handicap or the Listed Trigo Stakes over 1m2f.”
“He's the type of horse who could jump a hurdle in time; some people have different theories but I think a miler should get two miles over hurdles, other people say you need a 1m2f on the flat to get two over hurdles. Who knows, but all he's done is what he's asked to do.”
