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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Double for Dunne as Vanellope takes the last

Fri 17th Mar 2017, 18:22

The happy connections of Vanellope after she won the lastThe happy connections of Vanellope after she won the last
© Photo Healy Racing

Harley Dunne had a day to remember at Wexford, completing a 167/1 double aboard Vanellope in the concluding Wexford (Pro/Am) Flat Race.

Dunne, who is from Kiltealy near Enniscorthy, earlier scored aboard 7/1 chance Crosshue Boy for fellow Wexford man Sean Doyle.

Vanellope, who is trained in Co Wicklow by Peter Croke, ran well on her penultimate start at Fairyhouse, before she was beaten a long distance on her last outing at Thurles.

Available at 33/1 last night, the daughter of Presenting opened on-course at 25's before going off a 20/1 chance in the colours of owner Maurice Sheehy.

Settled in rear she made good progress from five furlongs out, and travelled best in second with over two furlongs to go.

The five-year-old victor was soon ridden to the front, and she kept on well inside the final furlong, going on to score easily by five lengths. Burren Life who was sent off the 8/13 favourite, had to settle for second under Luke McGuinness for Gordon Elliott, while Banno was another ten lengths back in third under Katie O'Farrell for Mags Mullins at 5/1.

Harley Dunne said afterwards: "That's my first double on the track, and before today I hadn't ridden a winner on the track for two years! (Kilford at Clonmel in March 2015). That's my 7lb claim gone now.

"This is a well-bred filly. She was green the first day and we found she was in season after she ran the last time. She travelled really well, and kept going."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

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.