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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Donnacha O'Brien completes four-timer at Naas

Wed 25th Jul 2018, 21:29

Donnacha O'Brien after completing his four-timer on ThreeandfourpenceDonnacha O'Brien after completing his four-timer on Threeandfourpence
© Photo Healy Racing

Threeandfourpence rounded off an evening dominated by the O'Brien family at Naas, as he took the concluding Golden Ticket Package Race.

Sent off the 4/9 favourite, the son of War Front came home two and a half lengths to the good over Theobald completing a four-timer for Donnacha O'Brien, and a double for his father Aidan.

The winning rider was earlier successful aboard North Wind for his father, while also completing a double for his brother Joseph, on Focus Of Attention and National Glory

Now the clear front-runner in the race to be crowned champion jockey, O'Brien, who recently turned twenty, said: "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't on my mind.

"I'm going to give it a shot and I'm in a good position at the minute. I'll probably need to have the lead that I have towards the later part of the year.

"Colin (Keane) is obviously an unbelievable rider and is going to continuing riding winners out of no-where. so I'll have to keep kicking."

He then added: "Four winners out of five isn't too bad. I had a few very good rides this evening. Obviously Dad's and Joseph's horses are continuing to run well so I'm lucky to sit on them.

"This fellow gave me a great feel, he done a half speed the whole way around, I gave him a squeeze at the two and he quickened up well. He had a little look when he got there then. He has a lot of ability.

"That'll give him a bit of confidence and hopefully he'll be able to make the grade when he steps back up (in class)."

Aidan O’Brien went on to say: "I'm delighted with him. The plan was to come here and give him a little bit of confidence because he's had a few tough ones.

"He's still in the Sussex and we'll see after that. He'll probably get further than a mile too but he travelled very well today.

"He might go to Goodwood. Our horses are just going through a little bit of a stage, a little bit of a change, and the odd one is not scoping right at the moment.

"We seen it with the filly in the Oaks (Magic Wand) and we just have to be careful."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

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.