Murtagh seeks more big handicap glory with Carrytheone

In-form trainer Johnny Murtagh, who landed the prestigious Sky Bet Ebor last weekend with Sonnyboyliston, bids to scoop one of the big handicaps of the domestic season in the Paddy Power Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh this evening courtesy of Carrytheone

Joseph O'Brien 's Toshizou heads the market at a general 9/2 with a maximum field of 27 set to line up over the straight mile at 6.45pm.

Murtagh's 4-year-old, who is a 9-1 chance with the sponsors this morning, won twice over course and distance last season including a maiden in July and then ending his campaign with a half length defeat of Mythologic in a handicap at the end of September.

The handler is realistic enough to know that his charge has not been seen in public for 335 days and should improve, but he might just bely those odds as Murtagh has aspirations of pattern events in time.

The former top-class jockey said: “It’s been a bit of a stop start season with a few niggly injuries and he hasn’t had a run, but he’s in good shape and is as fit as I can get him although I expect him to come on for the run.

“He loves the Curragh so the track is not a worry and the ground (good, following selective watering) should be lovely.”

Like many of these ultra-competitive handicaps, including the English Cambridgeshire, a Group class horse is often required to prevail. Last year’s Paddy Power Irish Cambridgeshire hero Laughifuwant was headed in the final strides on his next start in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes at Tipperary to go down by a short-head to Current Option.

Carrytheone has an entry in the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile at Leopardstown on Irish Champions’ Weekend.

When asked if he thought the Lope De Vega gelding might be a Group horse, Murtagh replied: “I’m hoping he is — he’s high in the ratings off 103 so there’s only a few handicaps that I can run him in. I’m hoping to make the step up to Group class with him although that is a big step and he’ll have to run well.

“He’s been off the track a long time and the owners [Any Excuse For A Holiday Syndicate] have been very patient. I think that I have him as fit as I can, he’ll probably need the run a little bit, but then come out and finish the season well.”