Game Pearl strikes again as Murtagh doubles up

Pearl Warrior bounced back to winning ways on his return to action at Fairyhouse this afternoon, giving Johnny Murtagh a double on the card.

The Dunaden gelding won three on the bounce last season but was only mid-division when last seen at Leopardstown in testing ground in October.

Shane Kelly 's mount took up his customary front-running role today in the mile-and-a-half handicap and proved very game when tackled in the straight.

The 10/1 shot repelled all-comers to record a hard-fought length success over Cape Islay

“We were going to run him last Saturday in the Ragusa Handicap but we thought we'd wait for this — maybe we should have run him!” said the trainer's representative and owner Paddy Woods.

“We're delighted with him. He wintered really well and we would have liked to get going with him earlier.

“Johnny had been talking about possibly going to Royal Ascot with him but now we can't of course.

“It's exciting times with him. Hopefully the handicapper isn't too hard on him but we're looking at premier handicap company for him now.

“Even when he works he's got to be in front. When he gets behind he gets sickened. When he has any sort of a lead at all, when he's working, he powers on. It's hard to get past him and he's sickened a lot of horses.

“In Leopardstown at the back end of last year he'd had a tough season and just didn't like the ground either. I'm delighted with him today.”