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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Face provides Sarah O'Brien with first win as an owner

Wed 15th Aug 2018, 17:40

Facethepuckout (nearest) gets up to beat Dandy BelleFacethepuckout (nearest) gets up to beat Dandy Belle
© Photo Healy Racing

Facethepuckout provided Sarah O'Brien with her first success as an owner, as he took the Derek Ryan Live After Racing Nursery Handicap.

O'Brien combined with her brothers Joseph (trainer) and Donnacha (rider) for this win, with the victorious son of Excelebration sent off the 5/4 favourite.

Beaten by just a neck at the Galway Festival, the bay colt raced in second and appeared to jump a sand path over four furlongs out.

He soon joined the front-running Dandy Belle (7/2) from early in the straight, and needed to be ridden out inside the final furlong to see off that rival by half a length.

Sean Davis was aboard the runner-up for Richard O'Brien, while Silver Service was another two and a quarter lengths back in third.

"It's nice for Sarah as it's her first winner," the winning handler said.

"Donnacha gave him a nice ride and on his Galway run he was entitled to be thereabouts.

"He'd probably be okay going a mile as well. He'll go for another nursery and I think there is more progression to come from him."

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.