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Donal Murphy
Big win for O'Shea with Vinnie
Supreme Vinnie and Rachael Blackmore pictured on their way to victory
© Photo Healy Racing
Supreme Vinnie made it back-to-back wins over flights, as he took the feature at Kilbeggan, the Carmel Fay Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
Successful on his eighth attempt over hurdles at the course earlier this month, the Denise O'Shea trained seven-year-old was sent off a 7/2 joint-favourite this evening (6's last night and touched 10/3 on-course).
Settled in mid-division by Rachael Blackmore, the son of Vinnie Roe was fifth with a circuit to race.
He travelled well in third on the approach to two out, and hit the front soon after that flight, keeping on well under pressure on the run-in, prevailing by a length and three parts. Kylecrue (20/1), who was prominent throughout, finished a gallant second under Danny Mullins for John Ryan, while Conduct Yourself (7's to 9/2) was seven lengths back in third under Brian Hayes for John Kiely. Dandridge was the other joint-favourite and he finished a disappointing ninth under Jack Kennedy for Arthur Moore.
Denise O'Shea said afterwards: "That's brilliant. He's a very, very special horse to me as he was my first runner and has done so much for my career.
"He has a few problems and we swim him an awful lot. I have to thank Matty Tynan for the use of his pool.
"Rachael has been great and that's the fourth winner she's ridden for me this season. She gets on great with him as he's not the easiest spin.
"All credit to the auld horse. He's my star and I love him to bits. That's the biggest race I've won.
"The lads (Moon & Stars Syndicate) lost their dad (Padraig O'Donovan) a couple of months ago and he was a fantastic man for me as he got me started.
"He might go back on the flat and we'll look at Galway so long as the rain stays away. I was cringing yesterday with every drop of rain that fell."
STEWARDS REPORT
A.L.T.Moore, trainer of Dandridge (GB), reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his charge was found to have a respiratory infection on an endoscopic examination post race
Additional reporting by Gary Carson