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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Quart flops as Bigbadjohn springs surprise

Mon 1st Jun 2015, 18:06

Bigbadjohn is driven out by Declan Queally to beat Kilkishen and Jamie CoddBigbadjohn is driven out by Declan Queally to beat Kilkishen and Jamie Codd
© Photo Healy Racing

Bigbadjohn sprang a 16/1 surprise in the bumper at Listowel, the Dr. Louis O'Carroll INH Flat Race, scoring under Declan Queally for Kilkenny based trainer Garrett Power.

The six-year-old son of Vinnie Roe won a point-to-point at Boulta on his last outing, which was his fourth start overall.

Making his racecourse debut today he was available at 33/1 in a place this morning before going off a 16/1 chance.

Having chased the leaders throughout he was ridden in third entering the straight for the final time. He came through to lead a furlong from home and kept on well from there to score by two lengths. Kilkishen (5/1), who won a bumper at Kilbeggan on his last start, finished second under Jamie Codd for John 'Shark' Hanlon while Rocklander (7/1) was five and a half lengths back in third under Steven Clements for Eoin Griffin. Au Quart De Tour was sent off the 5/4 favourite and he finished a well-beaten sixth under Patrick Mullins for his father Willie.

Garrett Power said afterwards: "That was good and he's a proper horse. We got his wind done after his win the last day and while we were a bit worried about the ground it probably suited him at the end of the day.

"He's an out and out chaser and not really a bumper type and is for sale. That's my first racecourse winner for his owner Godfrey Moylan."

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.