Murtagh returns with a winner

Johnny Murtagh made a successful return to the polytrack when steering Sports Casual to a convincing victory in division one of the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap.

The 2009 Irish Champion Jockey has missed the last few Dundalk meetings having been away at a jockeys challenge in Hong Kong, and he gave the 9/2 favourite a confident ride here.

The seven-year-old mare arrived full of running in the straight, leading over a furlong out to beat Bricks And Porter by two lengths with Jacks Law the same distance back in third.

“She has run well when second on her last two starts and I'm delighted to win here. She will have a few months off and be back again next year. Hopefully I can get a few more owners after this,” said winning trainer Yvonne Dunleavy.

The Co. Galway trainer, who is also the owner of Sports Casual, has currently ten horses in her care at Turloughmore.