Great Blasket, near side, fends off Baalbec Beauty by a neck© Photo Healy Racing
John Murphy's horses are certainly running into form and handicap debutant Great Blasket (11/1) made it three winners from the last six runners saddled by Murphy when scoring in Gowran Park.
This three-year-old had been gelded since an unplaced run in a Naas maiden back in November.
On his return to action in this second divide of the Coast To Curragh Charity Cycle Handicap over seven furlongs, Shane Foley settled him in mid-division.
Foley made progress on him entering the final couple of furlongs and the pair came through between horses to pose a big danger to Mullacash Buzz outside the last furlong.
Forward momentum saw the challenger grab the lead inside the furlong pole and Foley drove him home by a neck from Baalbec Beauty (14/1) who served it up to him in the closing stages. Allo Arry (50/1) completed the placings in third a further length and three-parts away.
Assistant trainer George Murphy said: “He did that nicely and was tough. We were a little bit worried that the ground would be a bit sharp for him, but Shane said that he travelled around on it nicely and was tough at the end.
“We’ll probably step up to a mile the next day.
“The horses are in good form. They were a bit flat about six weeks ago, so we just freshened everything up and are happy with the way they are all going now.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
