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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Luke's makes it win No 4 for the season

Sun 8th Jan 2012, 15:10

The 10yo Luke's Benefit recorded his fourth win of the season as he took the Tipper Road Handicap Chase for his trainer and rider Denis Hogan.

The son of Beneficial (second winner of the day from that sire after Monksland won two handicap hurdles in quick succession in November of last year at Limerick and Fairyhouse.

He then ran in two more handicap hurdles before winning on his handicap chase debut at Punchestown on New Year's Eve.

Sent off at 11/4 today, the grey gelding took up the running five fences from home and kicked on as they approached the last.

He got a bit weary on the run-in but kept on under pressure to hold off Uncle Tom Cobley (9/1) under Ben Dalton by two lengths while the 9/4 favourite Moville for Martin Brassil with Mark Walsh aboard was a further head back in third.

Winning trainer/rider Denis Hogan said afterwards: "He was probably all out. They weren’t going as quick as I thought they would so I let him stride on from five out. He likes to dictate things so it was nice to leave him go on.

"I don’t know where he will go next, we will see what the handicapper does with him but two miles is his trip.

"I’m thrilled for the lads, Mike & Tony O’Brien (winning owners the T & M Racing Partnership), as they put a lot into the game and it’s nice to see them getting repaid."

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.