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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Smart performance from Lake on racecourse bow

Sat 12th Nov 2022, 12:54

Hiddenvalley Lake and Rachael Blackmore lead over the lastHiddenvalley Lake and Rachael Blackmore lead over the last
© Photo Healy Racing

Hiddenvalley Lake put in a smart performance on his racecourse debut, taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle under Rachael Blackmore.

When trained by Marie Harding, he was carried out when looking set to score on his sole point-to-point start at Ballindenisk last December.

Subsequently sold for 200,000 pounds and making his debut for Henry de Bromhead and Robcour this afternoon, the Sholokhov gelding was sent off a 5/2 chance.

Always toward the head of affairs and in a definite lead from five out, he wasn't fluent at the second last.

The chestnut victor got a flier at the final flight though and was ridden clear on the run-in, going to score by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

The 11/8 favourite was Santonito and he ultimately had to settle for second under Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott, while Eabha Grace (9/2 to 10/3) was another a length away in third.

"He's a fine horse and has been working well," de Bromhead revealed.

"He looked like he'd win his point-to-point when he got carried out and in fairness Robert Acheson identified him.

"He's green but is a grand horse and stays well. We'll keep finding out about him and I'm delighted that he's won there."

Paddy Power go 25/1 (first show) about the winner for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in March.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

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.