18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Meticulous impresses on debut

Thu 19th Jul 2018, 17:38

Meticulous and Tom Hamilton pictured on their way to victoryMeticulous and Tom Hamilton pictured on their way to victory
© Photo Healy Racing

Meticulous put in an impressive performance on his debut, easily dismissing his eleven rivals in the Christy Lucey Transport Limited INH Flat Race.

Out of thirteen time winner Refinement, who was twice successful at the highest level, the Joseph O'Brien trained gelding was well-fancied to score on debut today.

Having opened on-course 9/4, he came in for good support, and eventually went off the clear 13/8 favourite under Tom Hamilton.

Settled behind the leaders in third, he improved into second down the back straight, and hit the front with over two furlongs to race.

The Michael Tabor owned bay was soon ridden and quickly went clear, coming home nine lengths to the good over Chasing Abbey (4/1) in second.

Conor Orr was aboard the runner-up for Paul Flynn, while Hammerstein (7/1) was another length and half back in third.

Speaking on Attheraces from Leopardstown, O'Brien said: "I'm very pleased with him. He'd been working nicely and is a very well-bred horse, by Fame and Glory out of Refinement. He won well.

"I'd say he'd have no trouble winning a Flat race and I'd say he will probably go hurdling at some stage. We might look for a winners bumper for him now maybe, and we'll go from there."

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.