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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Whatever records seventh career success

Fri 2nd Oct 2015, 21:04

Whatever It Takes is clear of his rivals under Fran BerryWhatever It Takes is clear of his rivals under Fran Berry
© Photo Healy Racing

Top-weight Whatever It Takes recorded his seventh career success as he ran out a comfortable winner of division one of the Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Handicap.

Wearing a visor for the first time the son of High Chaparral was sent off the 9/2 joint-favourite having finished second and third on his last two starts.

Settled behind the leaders in fourth the Niall Madden trained gelding was pushed along and improved into third as they approached the straight.

He hit the front on the outer just inside the two furlong pole and he soon drifted left towards the rail.

Once on the rail he kept on strongly and went on to score by four and a half lengths under Fran Berry in the colours of JP McManus. Scenic Star (6/1), who was prominent throughout, finished second under Gary Phillips for Gavin Cromwell while the other joint-favourite Mallory Heights was a further half a length back in third under Shane Foley for Garvan Donnelly.

Niall Madden said afterwards: "That's great. I gave him a good chance as he ran a cracker the last day in Wexford. It's great to get a winner for JP."

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.