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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Witty a good winner of Ulster Oaks

Sat 20th Jun 2015, 16:51

Witty Repartee is ridden out by Chris HayesWitty Repartee is ridden out by Chris Hayes
© Photo Healy Racing

Witty Repartee ran out an easy winner of the EBF Coolmore Stud Ulster Oaks Fillies Handicap scoring under Chris Hayes (doubling-up after earlier scoring on Cheers Buddy for Andy Oliver and owner Francis Campbell.

Having got off the mark on her seventh start at Leopardstown last time out the daughter of Iffraaj was sent off a 5/1 chance.

Settled in second she was ridden to lead two furlongs out and kept on well from there to score by three and a half lengths. Princess Aloof kept on to take second at 7/1 under Shane Foley for Jessica Harrington while Back On Top (13/8 to 11/8 favourite) could only manage a disappointing third, a further half a length back under Fran Berry for David Wachman.

Andy Oliver said afterwards: "We intended to keep up front and set a good pace. We got a toe and then Chris took over at the bend. It was a masterful ride by Chris.

"The owner Francis Campbell is from Coalisland and a good supporter of mine.

"We'll see where we go in handicaps, she won that off 70. It looks like she will stay further and she is progressing nicely.

"I thought a lot of her and everything is falling into place. I probably had her trip wrong."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham

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.