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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

O'Brien's double up with Father Frost

Mon 20th Apr 2015, 18:39

Father Frost & Joseph O'Brien (far side) get up to beat Frozen LakeFather Frost & Joseph O'Brien (far side) get up to beat Frozen Lake
© Photo Healy Racing

The well-regarded Father Frost got up in the nick of time to win the TicketSales Online corkracecourse.ie Maiden, providing Aidan and Joseph O'Brien with a double on the card.

The son of Rip Van Winkle cost 300,000 guineas as a yearling and he opened at 9/4 last night.

He was well-supported throughout the day and started on-course at just 11/10 before drifting out to 7/4 at the off.

Settled in fifth on the outer he improved into third two furlongs from home and soon came with his challenge.

He was ridden from over a furlong out and while he looked set for second inside the final furlong he found another gear close home, getting up to beat Frozen Lake by a head.

The runner-up was returned at 4/1 (from 11/2) under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx while Laharde (10/1) completed the placings a further two and a half lengths back in third under Connor King for David Marnane.

Joseph O'Brien said afterwards: "He has always been a nice horse and has shown a lot of speed. He can be free but settled real nice and I think six or seven furlongs is his optimum trip.

"I was conscious of not giving him too hard a race but always felt he was going to get there. He has a lot of speed and could be a horse for the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot."

The winner is entered in both the Irish 2000 Guineas and the Irish Derby.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

1st
7/4Fav
Tote €3.60 €1.70
2nd
nk
4/1
€1.10
3rd
2.5L
10/1
€2.10
4th
2.5L
5/1
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.