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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Park Row takes the finale for the Coakley's

Fri 21st Sep 2018, 21:33

The father and son team of Ross and Denis Coakley with Park RowThe father and son team of Ross and Denis Coakley with Park Row
© Photo Healy Racing

Park Row made it two wins from four starts since joining Denis Coakley, as he took the last at Dundalk this evening, the dundalkstadium.com Handicap.

Previously trained by Johnny Feane, and successful on his second start for Coakley at Fairyhouse in July, the eight-year-old gelding since finishing eleventh of twenty-three at the Curragh earlier this month.

Available at 14/1 in early shows, the son of Where Or When opened on-course at 10s, before going off a 9/1 chance in the colours of the winning trainer, Joseph Costello, and Patrick Coakley.

Settled behind the leaders by Ross Coakley, the chestnut victor came with his challenge on the inner from the two furlong pole.

He was ridden and got to the front a furlong from home, stretching clear in the closing stages, going on to score by two and a half lengths.

The 5/1 favourite Chaparral Dream (from 13/2) had every chance, but couldn't match the winner, and had to settle for second under Ronan Whelan for Adrian McGuinness. One Cool Poet (7/1) completed the placings another length and a half back in third, with Wayne Lordan aboard this one for Matthew Smith.

The winning rider said afterwards: "We're delighted. We came with the whole stable today but it didn't go to plan in the first so it was great that it came off here.

"Coming here we probably thought this lad had the better chance. Boxer Dunford was drawn 14 and obviously it went a bit disastrous.

"He's had his issues with the stalls and it went against him today. He went in messing and I wasn't even on him when the stalls opened. It was just one of those things.

"This lad has done it very well today. He had a good draw, jumped and travelled really well and he has form around here. We were always confident coming here when he had a good draw.

"He needed the run the last day in the Curragh and I kind of made it on sufferance on him. It was ideal today as there was a nice pace and I was able to get a bit of cover.

"He picked up, did it well and he's a right old horse.

"He goes on this surface and there are plenty of those mile-and-a-quarter and mile-and-a-half handicaps he can compete in during the winter.

"He might be out of the 45-65 now but he's consistent up here and tries every time so there is a bit of fun to be had with him anyway."

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.