Chicago Bear (centre)© Photo Healy Racing
Johnny Murtagh completed a Curragh double today with the trainer's Chicago Bear landing the concluding William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap for stable jockey Ben Coen.
Twenty seven horses raced for €7,500 first prize, with Chicago Bear held up in mid-field before improving to lead close home and score by a neck from faster-finishing Morning Approach
Murtagh, earlier successful with Mashhoor reported “I fancied him (Chicago Bear) today and thought his draw (in 26) wasn't much of an inconvenience because they were coming up the middle all day.
“He ran very well the last day for Jamie (Powell). A stiff mile is probably a good trip for him and he could win again as he's just starting to get the hang of it now and our horses seem to be improving from each run. Hopefully there is a bit more improvement in him.
“Sometimes you could question him a bit but today he got his head down and Ben was brilliant on him.”
Nearby Coolaghknock Glebe-based Murtagh also sent out Novagio to win at the venue on Friday and with five runners at the Curragh tomorrow, added “things are going well so far and the weekend isn't over yet.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
