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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Swing just holds off late Mizyen lunge

Fri 22nd Aug 2014, 17:44

Mizyen (green) and Manhattan Swing battle out the finishMizyen (green) and Manhattan Swing battle out the finish
© Photo Healy Racing

Manhattan Swing just held on to take the Follow Kilbeggan On Facebook Maiden Hurdle, scoring under Robbie McNamara for Dermot Weld (completing a double on the day with Pale Mimosa earlier winning at York).

The son of Invincible Spirit disappointed on his debut over hurdles at Galway last month, finishing sixth when sent off the 15/8 favourite.

Sent off the 8/11 favourite this evening he tracked the leaders throughout and improved into second after the third last. He was soon pushed along and hit the front before the next.

He appeared to lose momentum on the run-in as Mizyen kept on well but the ‘jolly’ just held on to score by a head.

The aforementioned runner-up was returned a 4/1 chance under Roger Loughran for Dessie Hughes while Stynes (14/1) completed the placings a further twenty-two lengths back in third under Mark Bolger for John McConnell.

Robbie McNamara said afterwards: "He saves a bit for himself and he is a better class of a horse than that. I went to pop the last and he half pulled up on me. He had plenty in the tank but it takes a bit of work to get it out. He never travelled and he needs a better pace."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

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.