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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Wilderness battles gamely to complete hat-trick

Sat 11th Jul 2020, 16:13

Wilderness (green) is ridden out by Ben Coen to beat Sweet Affection Wilderness (green) is ridden out by Ben Coen to beat Sweet Affection
© Photo Healy Racing

Wilderness gamely fought off all challengers to complete a hat-trick in the first divide of the Leopardstown Handicap.

Successful at Gowran and Roscommon last month, the Johnny Murtagh trained five-year-old was sent off the 11/4 favourite this afternoon.

Sent straight to the front by Ben Coen, the daughter of Cityscape made all. She was ridden and pressed by Ultra Pride over a furlong from home but soon had the measure of that rival. Sweet Affection (20/1) then came with a late rattle in the final 50 yards, but Wilderness done just enough to prevail by a head.

Andrew Slattery was aboard the runner-up for Dermot Weld, while Share The Honour (9/2) and the aforementioned Ultra Pride (7/2) were third and fourth respectively.

Coen said afterwards: "She was in good form coming into today and I thought the step up in trip would probably suit her. She loves bowling away in front and she quickened up well turning into the straight and toughed it out well the last half furlong.

"Hopefully she can keep progressing. She's in again (at Killarney) on Monday. I'm not sure if she's going to run and we'll see how she comes out of this race."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Stewards informed Terence O'Brien, trainer that Kingdom Brunel (GB), would have to be recertified before being declared to run from stalls again.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
11/4Fav
Tote €2.80 €1.20
2nd
hd
20/1
€2.90
3rd
1.75L
9/2
€1.60
4th
shd
7/2
€1.30
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.