Murphy strikes again with gambled Gold

John Murphy registered a sixth winner from 16 recent runners with a third Killarney August festival winner today, as his gambled Vintage Gold landed the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (div II).

The Highland Reel-gelding beat just one finisher in a course flat race on Thursday but was well-supported today, opening 33/1 yesterday and 16/1 this morning, before returning 17/2. Black Tonic the 11/4 favourite, was an unlucky loser as he was full of running and disputing the lead when blundering Ben Harvey from the saddle at the second-last. Vintage Gold was under pressure in fifth at that time but rallied well to eventually beat Amazing Amy

Winning jockey Daniel King reported “we went a gallop the whole way and I was in a good rhythm. He let fly at some of his jumps but when I gathered him up again, I could feel him underneath me. He picked them off nicely up the straight.

“He only ran here on the flat on Thursday and hasn't had many runs over jumps so will learn plenty from today.

“That's my first winner for John, who was very good to my brother Connor (retired jockey) so it was nice to get a win for him. I rode one horse on the flat for him recently but that was my first ride over jumps for him.”