Ten Ten Twenty deservedly gets off the mark

After filling the runner-up spot on his last two starts, Ten Ten Twenty deservedly made the breakthrough in the Keash Hill Handicap.

Beaten by just half a length into second at Galway on Sunday, the John Murphy trained gelding was well-fancied to go one place better this afternoon and was sent off the clear 5/4 favourite (touched 11/4 in early shows).

Settled behind the leaders in fourth, the son of Vadamos was pushed along on the outer from the two furlong pole and soon improved to lead, keeping on well when ridden inside the final furlong, going on to score by three parts of a length under Colin Keane. French Company (33/1) ran on well to take second under Chris Hayes for Jimmy Coogan, while Our Secret Pearl (33/1) was another three-and-three-parts of a length back in third.

George Murphy, assistant trainer to his father John, said: "He'd a couple of good runs in second, including at Galway where he just got a little bit of a bump in the dip and was maybe a little bit unlucky.

"He did that nicely there and he's a good, tough, honest horse.

"He got the trip well and he'd probably have no bother going up another couple of furlongs.

"He's fairly versatile in terms of trip and ground."

STEWARDS REPORTS

G.P. Halpin, rider of Catherine Chroi trained by Ms Claire O'Connell, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was tight for room on leaving the starting stalls.

Nikita Amelia Kane, rider of Xael trained by Damian Joseph English, reported to the Clerk of Scales that her mount got no run in the straight.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan