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![Donal Murphy](/photos/donalmurphy.jpg)
Donal Murphy
Tina's Indian lands gamble in style for Fahey
Tina's Indian stretches clear of his rivals
© Photo Healy Racing
Tina's Indian showed a smart turn of foot on debut, as he landed a gamble in the FBD Hotels And Resorts Castleknock Hotel Maiden.
Briefly available at 33/1 in early shows for this six-furlong heat, the Mark Fahey-trained colt came in for sustained market support and was eventually returned the 3/1 favourite under Ronan Whelan.
Settled in mid-division, the market leader took closer order from halfway and was pushed along in fifth with over a furlong to go.
Soon ridden, he came with his challenge between horses and shot to the front inside the final 150 yards, keeping on strongly from there to win by two-and-three-quarters of a length.
The 73-rated White Clover (9/2) filled the runner-up spot under Dylan Browne McMonagle, while Pansy Poe (5/1) was a head away in third.
The favourite in early shows, Red Hugh O'Donnell proved easy-to-back and the 7/2 chance finished a disappointing 12th.
"We love this horse and we think he's very, very good. I've never had a horse like him before, he does everything so easy," Fahey commented.
"He's a huge, big horse and is close to 17 hands. To be fair to his owners Mr Harrington and James (Hughes), they gave him all the time he needed and let him develop into a horse.
"I don't have too many maiden winners, but he was destroying everything I have at home. He was doing everything so easy and that's the first time he was ever took off the bridle.
"Ronan does the work on him and was super on him. When he hit the front he was still running around and there should be plenty of improvement in him."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Red Hugh O'Donnell, trained by P. Twomey, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
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