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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Easy win for Joey on third start for Rothwell

Fri 27th Sep 2013, 16:29

Imperial Joey and Andrew Ring pictured on their way to victory with Cyras Love back in secondImperial Joey and Andrew Ring pictured on their way to victory with Cyras Love back in second
© Photo Healy Racing

Imperial Joey ran out a wide margin winner of the Monster Raffle Handicap Hurdle on just his third start for Philip Rothwell.

Formerly trained by Michael Flannery and his owner Michael Cawe, the eight-year-old son of Imperial Ballet finished a decent fourth to Ballyspellan Lad on his last outing at Kilbeggan, and he was sent off at 8/1 this afternoon.

Without a win in twenty-six career starts, the bay gelding made virtually all today, stretching clear on the run-in, coming home a very easy sixteen length winner under Andrew Ring. Cyras Love was sent off the 3/1 favourite and she finished back in second under Shane Butler for Seamus Fahey, while Brian The Warrior (17/2) was half a length back in third under Jody McGarvey for Des McDonogh.

Andrew Ring, who was recording his first winner since May, said afterwards: “He ran at Kilbeggan and was dropped a pound for that, and I took seven off him today.

"On his hurdles form he was good enough to win today. He ran over two mile at Kilbeggan and they went a little quick for him and he didn’t get home.

"That’s my tenth winner, and my third of the season. Hopefully I will get going now with outside rides.

"I’m based with Philip Rothwell and I’m getting plenty of experience with him."

Rothwell joked afterwards: "I’m going to get Andrew a set of wing mirrors for Christmas!", before he added: "He jumped very well and I knew he stayed well.

"He just made a mistake at the second last at Sligo before he ran well at Kilbeggan, and I thought he would win here today.

"His owner, Michael Cawe, is from Mayo and this is his first horse with me."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham

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.