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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Dressedtothenines bounces back to form

Mon 16th May 2016, 18:18

Dressedtothenines clears a hurdle on her way to victory under Mark WalshDressedtothenines clears a hurdle on her way to victory under Mark Walsh
© Photo Healy Racing

Dressedtothenines lead home a JP McManus one, two, as she made all to take the Kelly Brothers Sliabh Luachra Hurdle.

A winner of four races in 2013, including a Grade 2 over hurdles and Grade 3 over fences, the Eddie Harty trained daughter of Oscar was off the track for over two years.

She returned to action at Navan in December, and was last seen pulling up in the race won by Definite Ruby at the Punchestown Festival.

Sent off a 9/1 (from 10's on-course) chance today, she made all under Mark Walsh.

She was ridden after three out and responded well to pressure, going on to score by three and three parts of a length. Give Me A Break who drifted from 9/2 to 7/1 on-course, finished second under Barry Geraghty for Michael Hourigan. Bright New Dawn (6/4) was a further four and a half lengths back in third under Bryan Cooper for Gordon Elliott. Hidden Cyclone was sent off the 5/4 favourite (4's last night and from 6/4 on-course) and he jumped poorly throughout, trailing home a disappointing fourth under Rachael Blackmore for John 'Shark' Hanlon.

Frank Berry, racing manager for JP McManus, said afterwards: "It's nice to get her back winning as she had been very disappointing over fences for whatever reason we don't know.

"Mark said she loved the hurdles and jumped like a buck. The conditions of the race suited her as she was highly enough rated at one stage, we've no plan with her."

Regarding the runner-up, Give Me A Break, he added: "She ran a cracker."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

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.