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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Saint provides Halford & Foley with quick double

Sun 2nd Sep 2012, 17:49

Saint By Day (noseband) comes to pass Noverre Princess with Atmospheric High in thirdSaint By Day (noseband) comes to pass Noverre Princess with Atmospheric High in third
© Photo Healy Racing

Mick Halford & Shane Foley completed a quick fire double as they took the second division of the www.sardaireland.com handicap with 7/2 shot Saint By Day

The duo had taken division one of the race just thirty minutes earlier with the 6/4 favourite Coach Bombay

Saint By Day, who is a 6yo son of Marju, was recording just his second career victory today after scoring over the course way back in November 2009.

On his twenty-ninth run since that victory he finally got his head in front again as he kept on best inside the final furlong to get up close home and win by a head.

The 3/1 favourite Noverre Princess hit the front a furlong from home but she couldn't hold off the challenge of Saint By Day and had to settle for second for trainer Joanna Morgan.

Top weight Atmospheric High completed the placings a further length and a quarter back in third at 10/1 under Billy Lee for Eddie Lynam.

Winning trainer Mick Halford said afterwards: "He likes to be ridden quietly. When he is among horses he panics and holds his breath so we had a tongue tie on him.

"You are always vulnerable when being ridden from behind like that. The step up in trip suited him and he loves that surface and we will keep him to it.

"Hopefully now that he has got his head in front there will be more to come.

"His owner Paul Rooney has been very patient and he deserved that win."

(On-course reporting by Michael Graham)

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.