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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

O'Brien doubles-up with debutant Dooneen

Thu 5th Jul 2018, 18:52

Cliffs Of Dooneen leads home True SelfCliffs Of Dooneen leads home True Self
© Photo Healy Racing

After winning the opener at Tipperary, Aidan O'Brien doubled-up in the third at Bellewstown, as his Cliffs Of Dooneen took the one mile six furlong Europcar Drogheda Maiden.

Making his debut this evening, the son of Galileo was sent off a 7/2 chance with Wayne Lordan in the saddle.

Having raced in third, he was ridden and looked in trouble from two furlongs out, as True Self travelled strongly in front.

However the bay victor responded well to pressure and gradually reeled-in the leader, getting to the front inside the final 100 yards, going on to score by a length and a quarter.

The aforementioned True Self (7/4) had to settle for second under Danny Mullins, while the 11/10 favourite Baliyad was another four and a half lengths back in third.

Lordan said afterwards: "He did it well. It's a hard thing to come here first time out against experienced opposition but he quickened up and did it well and he stays well.

"He'll improve plenty."

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.