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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Defining wins Battle for Cleary & Halford

Sun 2nd Jun 2019, 16:04

Defining Battle (noseband) sees Rhydwyn (far side) and Tham Luang Defining Battle (noseband) sees Rhydwyn (far side) and Tham Luang
© Photo Healy Racing

Defining Battle got off the mark on his third start, as he battled to victory in the BetVictor Guaranteed Run For Your Money Maiden.

Fifth on debut at Dundalk last November, the Mick Halford trained grey was since fourth at Cork behind Opening Verse in April.

He came in for plenty of market support on that occasion, and was well-backed again this afternoon, touching 9/4 this morning before going from 7/4 into clear 6/4 favouritism on-course.

Sent straight to the front by Rory Cleary, the Lope De Vega colt made virtually all.

He was ridden and pressed by Tham Luang from the two furlong pole, but had the measure of that rival inside the final furlong, before holding off the late surge of Rhydywn by a neck.

The runner-up ran a fine race on debut for Tom Hogan, and was returned at 6/1 having opened on-course at 9s.

The aforementioned Tham Luang was another length back in third, while the easy-to-back Tranchee (2/1) could only manage a disappointing fourth.

Cleary said afterwards: "Michael Halford said to keep it simple and he thought he was a good horse.

"He was only going through the motions coming into the straight but in fairness he did it the hard way as there is a strong head-wind."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

1st
6/4Fav
Tote €2.30 €1.02
2nd
nk
6/1
€1.60
3rd
1L
7/2
€1.50
4th
3.5L
2/1
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.