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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Collins & Donoghue on the mark with Sweetie

Mon 1st Aug 2016, 14:35

Hello Sweetie clears the last with Khalessi in second and Rosshaven Lady thirdHello Sweetie clears the last with Khalessi in second and Rosshaven Lady third
© Photo Healy Racing

Hello Sweetie sprang a 14/1 surprise in the opener at Cork, the Follow Us On Twitter Mares Maiden Hurdle, scoring under Keith Donoghue for owner/trainer Pat Collins.

Placed on six of her previous eleven starts, the daughter of Westerner was last seen finishing a well-beaten fifth at Downpatrick last month.

Fitted with a tongue strap for the first time today, she was settled in second, dropping to third after the fourth last flight.

She got a good run through on the inner entering the straight, and jumped three out in a share of the lead. She was ridden to the front after the next, and kept on well on the run-in, going on to score by a length and a quarter. Khalessi (7/1), who wasn't fluent two out, had to settle for second under Ambrose McCurtin for TJ Nagle, while Rosshaven Lady who was returned the even money favourite, was a further length and three parts back in third under Davy Russell for Joseph O'Brien.

Pat Collins said afterwards: "She was touched off in her first bumper at Ballinrobe and has had a few problems along the way but we're learning with her every time.

"I'll run her again while the ground is suitable and while she's no superstar, she has done her job now. I think she'll win again, she has schooled and will jump a fence no bother."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.