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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Irish Derby next up for game Ralston

Sun 12th May 2013, 18:09

Ralston Road is driven out by Tadhg O'Shea to beat MouraniRalston Road is driven out by Tadhg O'Shea to beat Mourani
© Photo Healy Racing

The Pat Shanahan trained Ralston Road put in a game front running display under Tadhg O’Shea to win the last at Leopardstown, the FM104 Strawberry Alarm Clock Family Days 3yo Maiden.

The son of Dylan Thomas failed to score on three starts as a two-year-old but got off the mark today on his second start of the season.

He finished second to We’ll Go Walking (disappointed earlier in the day in the 1000 Guineas Trial) at Gowran last month and he was sent off at 7/2 (drifted on track from 5/2) to go one place better today.

Turning for home it looked as if the John Oxx trained Mourani (8/1) was the one to be on as he travelled best, however he couldn't pass the winner and went down by three parts of a length at the line.

The Aidan O’Brien trained Plith was sent off the 11/10 favourite under Joseph O’Brien but he could only manage third, a further length and a half back.

Pat Shanahan said afterwards: "That’s my third winner of the season. He is tough and genuine and he loves galloping. He has come up against some good horses.

"He is entered in the Irish Derby and that is where he will go next."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham

1st
7/2
Tote €4.40 €1.90
2nd
0.75L
8/1
€1.90
3rd
1.5L
11/10Fav
€1.10
4th
3.5L
4/1
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.