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Almanaara too good in Tipperary

Almanaara and Pat Smullen kick clear in TipperaryAlmanaara and Pat Smullen kick clear in Tipperary
© Photo Healy Racing

Dermot Weld's Almanaara was the clear-cut winner of Tipperary's extended seven and a half furlong maiden and justified odds-on favouritism in doing so.

Pat Smullen's mount was always in the front rank just off pace-setting Missguided The grey colt then eased into the lead over two furlongs out and soon asserted.

He was ridden inside the furlong pole to keep up the gallop and passed the post three lengths clear at 4/7.

John Murphy 's nicely-backed Military Hill (9/2) just fended off 33/1 newcomer Orinoco River for second by a neck.

“It was a long time coming as we thought he would have won before now,” Pat Smullen said.

“To be fair to him I think he would have won last time if it had been seven.

“I was always going to make use of the draw today as he was the best horse in a weak race.

“Hopefully he'll get a bit of encouragement and confidence from that as he has ability.”

Almanara drew the number one stall and was sporting blinkers for the first time. This was his sixth racecourse appearance.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
4/7Fav
Tote €1.50 €1.02
2nd
4L
9/2
€1.90
3rd
nk
33/1
€10.50
4th
hd
7/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.