Windsor Beach and Niall McCullagh pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Fresh from a double at Dundalk yesterday evening, Johnny Murtagh was on the mark again at Cork this afternoon, as his Windsor Beach made all in the Equine Acres Handicap.
The consistent son of Starspangledbanner won at Leopardstown and Gowran over the summer months, and having touched 9/2 on-course today, he eventually went off the well-supported 7/2 favourite.
Sent straight to the front by Nial McCullagh, the Paul Smith owned victor held a health advantage from the two furlong pole, and he kept up the gallop from there, going on to prevail by two and a half lengths.
Top-weight Tony The Gent (9/2) finished second under Gary Carroll for Ger Lyons, while 16/1 chance Ormskirk (16/1) put in a decent performance to take third, another five and a half lengths back under Wayne Lordan for Gavin Cromwell.
Murtagh said afterwards: "He probably got too keen in the blinkers at Dundalk last time out but settled much better today and was able to finish. Niall (McCullagh) said he got through the ground really well.
"He's climbing up the handicap the whole time and we'll see what the handicapper does with him. We'll see how he is over the next few days and I might look at the Trigo Stakes (at Leopardstown) for him next."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
