18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Alf Wright does it all right

Sat 18th Aug 2012, 19:46

Alf Wright puts in a great jump at TramoreAlf Wright puts in a great jump at Tramore
© Photo Healy Racing

An enterprising ride from Michael Butler who sent Alf Wright clear from the fifth of 15 fences in the two mile six beginners chase at Tramore was rewarded when the pair held on to score by a rapidly diminishing half a length.

Only three horses were able to set off in pursuit of the pair coming to the second last – Trabajo Bundle Of Fun and Ocean Bright It looked like Alf Wright would get swallowed up but he forged on and Bundle Of Fun, the 3/1 favourite for Willie and Emmet Mullins, couldn’t quite reach him.

Trabajo, who was nicely backed in the morning from 10/1 to 6/1 and went off 5/1, was a never nearer third for Shark Hanlon and Andrew McNamara.

The winner was a 5/1 shot, backed down from 7/1 in the ring, and broke a losing run of 29 runners for trainer Eoin Doyle.

Doyle was at a wedding in Galway, but jockey Michael Butler said: “He disappointed a bit on his last two runs over hurdles, but we were always hoping he would make a better chaser.

“He won his point-to-point and that experience was a big help. We had a bit of a quiet patch and it’s great to get a winner especially at Tramore.”

(on course reporting by Alan Magee)

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.