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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Sometimesadiamond shines in the feature at Naas

Wed 25th Jul 2018, 19:45

Sometimesadiamond (inside) is ridden out by Kevin Manning to beat Could It Be LoveSometimesadiamond (inside) is ridden out by Kevin Manning to beat Could It Be Love
© Photo Healy Racing

Sometimesadiamond bounced back to form to take the feature at Naas this evening, the Listed Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes.

Successful on debut at Fairyhouse in June of last year, the Jim Bolger trained bay failed to follow-up in seven starts since.

Third in the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes in May, the daughter of Vocalised could only manage a disappointing fifth on her most recent effort in handicap company at Gowran.

Available at 20s this morning, the Jackie Bolger owned victor did come in for some market support, opening on-course at 16s, before going off a 14/1 chance.

Prominent throughout on the inner under Kevin Manning, she was ridden two furlongs from home, and led inside the final 150 yards, keeping on well from there to hold off the effort of Could It Be Love

The runner-up was returned the 11/4 favourite, and having led for much of the contest, she dropped to third a furlong out, battling back in the closing stages, going down by just a head. Golden Spell completed the places another neck back in third for Niall McCullagh and Johnny Murtagh at 16/1.

"I rode her over seven here on her penultimate start and she actually didn't travel with me early on. I didn't know what her trip was to be quite honest," said Manning.

"Tonight she popped and travelled, she travelled real well and kept going all the way to the line.

"I couldn't fault her. I just wasn't 100 percent sure what her best trip is but she did it well tonight.

"I always felt she was capable of winning one of these but I was lost a little bit trip wise. She did win over six at Fairyhouse so maybe this is her ideal trip.

"It's just great to get that black-type for her."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

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.