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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Western wins on flat debut

Wed 15th Jul 2015, 18:10

Western Boy (nearest) is driven out by Fran Berry to beat AlguazilWestern Boy (nearest) is driven out by Fran Berry to beat Alguazil
© Photo Healy Racing

The Pat Fahy trained Western Boy took the opener at Killarney, the Ladbrokes Ireland Maiden, on his flat debut.

Better known for his exploits over obstacles the son of Antonius Pius opened on-course at 11/4 before drifting out to 7/2 at the off.

Settled in mid-division he was sixth with a circuit to race as Alguazil attempted to make all under Joseph O'Brien.

The JP McManus owned victor was pushed along in seventh entering the straight but he made good headway on the outer from two furlongs out.

He went in pursuit of Alguazil from the furlong pole and got to the front over 100 yards out, keeping on well from there to score by three parts of a length under Fran Berry.

The John Murphy trained Alguazil, who was sent off the well-backed 9/4 favourite (from 7/2 on-course), had to settle for second while Regal Beauty (20/1) was three lengths back in third under Shane Foley for Ken Condon.

Pat Fahy said afterwards: "I'm delighted to get it as things didn't go right for him over fences and he ended up clouting them and was similar over hurdles.

"We said we'd try him back on the flat and it's great he has won. I'm hoping to go for the Galway Hurdle next but I'm not sure whether he'll get in - if he doesn't there's a 0-140 handicap hurdle there for him instead."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

1st
7/2
Tote €4.70 €1.50
2nd
0.75L
9/4Fav
€1.40
3rd
3L
20/1
€7.70
4th
1.5L
33/1
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.