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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Dominant Walsh brings up 50 for season

Thu 29th Jan 2015, 15:22

Totally Dominant (near side) and Arctic Skipper jump the last together
Totally Dominant (near side) and Arctic Skipper jump the last together
© Photo Healy Racing

Ruby Walsh notched up a half century of winners for the current campaign when getting Totally Dominant up in the closing stages of the thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle which was run in a snow shower.

The War Chant gelding was easy in the market drifting out to 11/4 having been around 2/1 this morning.

Walsh tracked the pace on the six-year-old and really galvanised the American bred in the closing stages to touch off Arctic Skipper by a neck. Isabellesprincess was a further three and a quarter lengths back in third, while 9/4 favourite Cest Notre Gris weakened after two out to finish sixth.

The jockeys wore black armbands in every race on today's card in memory of recently deceased Thurles owner/manager Pierce Molony.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins said, "He couldn't face into that wind in the straight and it's hard to keep a horse in front in those conditions but Ruby said he liked that ground.

"We'll probably move him up to two and a half miles and on that ground he should have no problems."

Walsh said, "The snow is driving into your face down the straight and when we jumped the second last I couldn't really get him to run into it but eventually he did. It's horrible!"

(TW & AM)

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.