Ferrari hangs on to give Murphy brace
Signor Ferrari and Luke McAteer (green and white hooped cap)
© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Pat Murphy was another to bag a double at Dundalk this afternoon as Signor Ferrari held on to land a gamble in the first division of the ten furlong handicap.
The Invincible Army gelding was backed from 20/1 this morning and eventually went to post an 11/2 shot.
Luke McAteer produced his mount to lead over a furlong from home and he just had enough up his sleeve late on to hold the charge of Storm Eric by a head.
The winner was stepping up in trip today having been mid-division over seven furlongs on his last visit to the track.
Murphy said: "I think he won off something similar (mark) before.
"At home, he kind of works a bit keen so we were trying him with a shorter trip. He worked very well last week and he kind of stayed at it, so we said we would let him back up to 10 furlongs.
"I just worried, with the extended 10 here, would he stay and look he just barely held on at the line.
"We will see whether we will stick to 10 with him or whether we will go back to eight.
"I'm delighted to get a win out of him.
"He was kind of off the pace in his runs before. When he was able to lie up with the pace, he seemed to be more into it."
Murphy had also struck with Fly To Glory in the earlier six furlong handicap.
(Quotes by Michael Graham)