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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

O'Connor drive gets Na Trachtalai up

Thu 23rd Jul 2015, 20:51

Best Value (nearest) and Na Trachtalai Abu jump the last togetherBest Value (nearest) and Na Trachtalai Abu jump the last together
© Photo Healy Racing

Na Trachtalai Abu got up close home to win the Munster National 11th October (Qualified Rider) Handicap Hurdle.

The James Motherway trained five-year-old went down narrowly on his last start at Tipperary and he was sent off the 5/2 favourite this evening.

Settled towards rear by Derek O'Connor he made progress through the field from the before the fourth last.

He travelled strongly into second before two out and while he was soon on terms he needed to driven out on the run-in to see off Best Value by half a length.

The runner-up, who lead from after the second, was returned at 14/1 under Johnny King for TJ Nagle.

The Denis Hogan trained Ocean Glandore was a further three and three parts back in third at 9/2. Springfield Grey was backed from 5/1 to 7/2 on-course and he finished fourth.

Motherway said afterwards: "He has to be dropped in and things didn't work out at Roscommon when he raced with the pace and did too much.

"Derek played away with him and said he's a horse that if you fight him, he'll fight you. The hood (wore it before) helped keep the lid on him today and he needs that trip.

"He jumps fences like a buck and will make a nice good ground chaser next year. We'll have a look at the handicap hurdle at Galway next Sunday."

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.