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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Bulletin continues Limerick love affair

Fri 2nd Dec 2016, 15:34

Irish Bulletin leads A Decent Excuse over the lastIrish Bulletin leads A Decent Excuse over the last
© Photo Healy Racing

Irish Bulletin recorded his fourth win from five starts at Limerick, as he took the Follow Limerick Races On Facebook Handicap Hurdle.

Successful on his last start over fences at Fairyhouse, the six-year-old son of Invincible Spirit was sent off at 7/1 this afternoon with Conor Brassil in the saddle.

Settled in mid-division, the Eric McNamara trained victor made progress between horses approaching the straight.

He travelled best in second before two out, and was soon ridden. He hit the front on the run to the last, and kept on well on the run-in to score by two and three parts of a length. A Decent Excuse (8/1), who was headed when blundering at the last, had to settle for second under Barry John Foley for Eugene O'Sullivan, while Coolbane West (7/1) kept on to take third, a further length back under Phillip Enright for Liam Burke. Jo Go who was backed from 13/2 into 4/1 favouritism, finished a disappointing last under Robbie Power for Cathy O'Leary.

Other fancied runners Cloudy Morning and Wolfslair finished fifth and eighth respectively.

Eric McNamara said afterwards: "It is always lovely to win here and he's been lucky here. He seems to be better around here than anywhere else for some reason and Conor gave him a fabulous ride and kept out on the better ground.

"He might come back here at Christmas but if the ground turns heavy you won't see him."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.