Murtagh keeps up winning run with Near Kettering Johnny Murtagh capped off a highly successful week when saddling Near Kettering to take the Cliona Hagan Plays Live At Limerick Racecourse July 26th Apprentice Handicap. The former champion jockey recorded his first treble as a trainer at Leopardstown on Thursday evening and this victory made it six winners in the past eight days. Near Kettering beat all bar Aussie Valentine at that Leopardstown meeting, and the decision to make a quick reappearance here paid handsome dividends. The well-backed 5/2 shot headed Azzuri a furlong out, and kept on well for Tom Madden to beat the 2/1 favourite by a length. Sharjah could find no extra finishing three and a quarter lengths further back in third. Murtagh said, “Tom rides out two days a week with us so it’s grand to be able to give him a winner. He’s a good lad, working hard and gave him a beautiful ride. “He was just so fresh after running at Leopardstown and I took a chance. I don’t usually like running them so quick but he was really well and it was an ideal race for him. “He’s a durable, straight forward horse and hopefully he can win another handicap for us. “My head girl Valerie (Keatley) got concussed the other day, and she normally rides this horse out. She is eating a bit today and hopefully is on the mend.”
