Murtagh makes hay at Leopardstown

Johnny Murtagh was a notable absentee from Royal Ascot today, but has recorded a double, from the opening three races, at Leopardstown this evening. Murtagh, who completed his double on Creekside in the Growise Handicap, was also completing a double for winning trainer John Oxx.

The winner failed to keep a straight line in the straight but did comfortably defeat the third losing short-priced favourite of the evening, 4/6f Estithmaar

Afterwards Oxx said “Creekside looked like he was hanging left first of all but when Johnny hit him, he went right – he takes a bit of steering.”

“I was sure we had too much weight beforehand and while he’s lazy, he has an engine. We’ll see what rating he gets after this but I’d say we’ll be kicked out of handicaps now! Eight or nine furlongs is his trip and we may go for something better now.”

Thomas Weekes