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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Double for Danny as Gunfire wins by 46 lengths

Thu 23rd Jul 2020, 19:46

Gunfire Reef and Danny Mullins pictured on their way to victoryGunfire Reef and Danny Mullins pictured on their way to victory
© Photo Healy Racing

Gunfire Reef galloped his rivals into the ground, as he came home a wide margin winner of the first divide of the Newcastle West Handicap Hurdle.

Ridden by Danny Mullins, who was completing a short-priced double, owned by his brother Anthony and trained by their mother Mags, the ten-year-old victor was sent off the 6/5 favourite.

Successful over fences at Tipperary on Sunday, the King's Theatre gelding was looking to exploit his much lower hurdles mark this evening.

In front before the third, Gunfire Reef established a commanding advantage with over a circuit to race and he kept up the gallop all the way to the winning post, coming home forty-six lengths to the good. Moyode Lady (4/1) finished second under Gavin Brouder for James Nash, while Galaxy Girl (10/1) was another six lengths back in third.

Just six of the fourteen who set out for this three mile contest managed to complete the course, with the remaining eight all pulling up.

Danny Mullins, earlier successful on Mystery Stowaway said afterwards: "My mother thought he came out of Tipperary well and decided to take the gamble and come here.

"If he comes out of this well, he might go to Cork tomorrow. He won easily there but it will still take a bit out of him, although my mother is a fair judge of that and I'll leave it up to her.

"It is the first winner I've ridden for my brother Anthony so it's a great family affair."

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.