Pakens Rock wins well for Derek O'Connor© Photo Healy Racing
Pakens Rock provided Galway trainer Barry Murphy with his first winner in over two years as Pakens Rock made all for a convincing success in the bumper at Thurles.
The restricted licence holder last tasted victory with Kentucky Lass at Roscommon back in the summer of 2016, and positive tactics here worked a treat.
Derek O’Connor had no stamina concerns over this 2m4f trip, and the well-backed 4/1 chance asserted strongly over a furlong out.
He kept on really well inside the final furlong to beat Extrapolate by six and a half lengths, with Criq Sun a further four and a half lengths back in third. Miss Shoe City was sent off the 5/4 favourite on debut and while meeting interference over half a mile out, could make no impression from over a furlong out to finish fourth.
Murphy said, "He had two nice runs and got a great ride from Derek. We'll celebrate first before making plans and see how he is tomorrow.
"We'll see how the form pans out and we'll learn from the other people and see what they do with their horses.
"I felt I was unlucky not to have a winner here on Thursday with Kilchreest Moon (beaten less than a length) but these things happen. It's the owner that's important and Ray (Healy, owner) is from Kilchreest and I've known him and Maggie his partner for 21 years.
"Andrew Flaherty, the conditional jockey, rides him out and myself and Kevin Heffernan, who is himself a trainer, helps me out in my base at Clarinbridge in Galway. I'm always open to take more horses."
(TW & AM)
