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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Weld & Smullen double up with Ashraf

Sun 29th Mar 2015, 18:53

Pat Smullen recorded a double at the Curragh today Pat Smullen recorded a double at the Curragh today
© Photo Healy Racing

After winning the fifth with Stormfly Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen doubled up in the last, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, as Ashraf ran out a comfortable winner in the colours of the Aga Khan.

The bay son of Cape Cross finished fifth on his debut over the course in September of last year and he was sent off a 3/1 chance today.

Prominent throughout he improved into second three furlongs from home and cruised into the lead with over a furlong to race.

He then stretched clear in the closing stages to come home an easy four and three parts of a length winner.

Newcomer Boherbuoy (25/1) finished a good second under Fran Berry for David Wachman while Newberry New (66/1) was a further three parts of a length back in third under Billy Lee for Jessica Harrington. Jacobean Ryan Moore for Aidan O'Brien, was sent off the 6/5 favourite but he could only manage a disappointing fourth, a further eleven lengths back.

Dermot Weld said afterwards: "He won nicely and will go for the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown. He should make into a nice colt, and I would expect him to be comfortable going a mile and a quarter.

"He was fit and forward, and knew his job. He handles that ground well."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
3/1
Tote €5.10 €1.90
2nd
4.75L
25/1
€6.60
3rd
0.75L
66/1
€11.30
4th
11L
6/5Fav
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.