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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Progressive Beach another for Murtagh

Sat 15th Oct 2016, 14:45

Windsor Beach and Niall McCullagh pictured on their way to victoryWindsor 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

1st
7/2Fav
Tote €4.20 €2.20
2nd
2.5L
9/2
€1.70
3rd
5.5L
16/1
€3.90
4th
3.75L
8/1
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.