18+ | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

Fifth win for Murphy's dual-purpose Castleheath

Castleheath Castleheath
© Healy Racing Photos

Dual-purpose performer Castleheath (3/1) recorded his fifth career win and enhanced his good course record at Ballybrit in the Medical Technology Ireland Expo Galway Handicap Hurdle over two miles.

Always prominent under Eoghan Finegan, the Elzaam gelding lead after two out to beat Shellrunforbriggs by four and a half lengths.

A dead-heater in a Flat handicap at last year's festival, the five-year-old, owned by Niall and Cathal Sevin, had chased home in-form Timurshah here in August.

"I'm thrilled with him and he has been some servant,” said winning trainer Ciaran Murphy.

“We couldn't believe he was beaten here at the summer festival, but he came up against a very well-handicapped horse.

"After his run in Perth, we put him away for today and he handles it well around here. I don't think he ever jumped as well as he did today.

"He has the maturity now to go for a nice handicap off a low weight and there is also a twist off him on the Flat too. He is an exciting type.

"The Slevins are great supporters of the yard and have really been behind me in the last couple of years, so I'm very lucky."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.