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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Rigid rocks to eighth success

Fri 5th Aug 2016, 19:39

Rigid Rock comes home a easy winner under Leigh RocheRigid Rock comes home a easy winner under Leigh Roche
© Photo Healy Racing

Rigid Rock sprang a 16/1 surprise in division one of the Dan Dooley Ford Centre Handicap, scoring under Leigh Roche for Adrian McGuinness.

Second on his seasonal debut at Bellewstown in July, the now eight time winner disappointed on his most recent effort at Dundalk.

Sent to the front after a furlong, he went clear entering the straight, and kept on well under pressure from over a furlong out, going on to score easily by a length and a quarter in the colours of owner Sean Gallagher. Bert Leaf (8's to 6's) finished second under Pat Smullen for Seamus Fahey, while Nannys Well (25/1) was half a length back in third under Chris Hayes for Pat Murphy. Doonard Prince (11/2) completed the placings a further two and a half lengths back in fourth under Shane Foley for Ross O'Sullivan.

The Charles O'Brien trained Fairy Flute was sent off the 4/1 favourite and she finished a disappointing tenth with Declan McDonogh in the saddle.

McGuinness said afterwards: "That's his eighth win and it's three for me - he's had problems and it's been hard to keep him right but it's great for Sean (Gallagher) who is a great supporter of mine.

"He was a cheaply bought horse and the little dig in the ground suited him. Unfortunately there was no race for him in the coming days and he's not double-entered. A track like Listowel would suit him and he'll go there in September."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

1st
16/1
Tote €18.00 €4.80
2nd
1.25L
6/1
€1.90
3rd
0.5L
25/1
€7.20
4th
2.5L
11/2
€1.60
bf
7L
4/1Fav
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.