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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Odds-on Formidable takes the bumper at Navan

Sun 13th Nov 2011, 16:28

The finale on this afternoon's card at Navan the Friends of St Johann Ski Resort bumper over 2m went to the odds-on 4/6 favourite Formidableopponent for Noel Meade and Nina Carberry.

The winning son of Arakan won a point-to-point at Lemonfield in March but disappointed on his racecourse debut at Punchestown last month finishing sixth behind Joxer when sent off the 4/7 favourite.

Today, the 4yo gelding made smooth progress on the outside to ease into the lead a furlong and a half from home. From there he kept on well to score by two and a half lengths. Mad Brian put in an eye-catching performance to finish a good second at 11/1 for his trainer Gillian Callaghan while Maccas Lad was a further ten lengths back in third at 12/1.

Winning trainer Noel Meade, who was completing a double on the day having scored earlier with Il Fenomeno said afterwards: "He needed the run last time out. He ran too keen and got tired. He was a different proposition today. Nina got him settled.

"He might not want real heavy ground as he hasn't got a huge foot on him. I reckon the second horse might be a good horse.

"He will go jumping now. He has already won a point-to-point and he might be out before Christmas."

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.