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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Msmilan justifies favouritism

Thu 21st Jul 2016, 18:54

Genesta (noseband) and Msmilan jump the last together with the latter going on to score under Paddy KennedyGenesta (noseband) and Msmilan jump the last together with the latter going on to score under Paddy Kennedy
© Photo Healy Racing

Msmilan justified favouritism in the Griffith College Mares Novice Hurdle, scoring under Paddy Kennedy for Jessica Harrington.

Successful in a maiden hurdle at Navan in April, the daughter of Milan was then well-beaten at the Punchestown Festival.

She was sixth on her handicap debut at Tipperary in May, going down by half a length on her most recent outing in a novice contest at Roscommon earlier this month.

Sent off the 11/8 favourite this evening she was settled in fourth, improving a place into third before three out. She was pushed along after that flight, and went second before the next.

The Michael O'Neill owned victor jumped into a dispute of the lead at the last, and she kept on well on the run-in, going on to score by three and three parts of a length.

The front-running Genesta (backed from 3's to 15/8 on-course) had to settle for second under Danny Mullins for his mother Mags.

The front two went five and a half lengths clear of Aunt Eileen who ran a cracker to finish third on her debut.

Paddy Kennedy, whose brother Jack won this first, said afterwards: "I thought I had the other one (Genesta) covered coming down to the last but she idled a little bit in front.

"She'll jump a fence in time and I'm not sure where she'll run next but Jessie might want to look at black-type over hurdles for her at some stage."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

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.