Zenford collects for Murtagh & Coen Consistent performer Zenford (10/11f) gained a breakthrough first success today, as the Johnny Murtagh-trained, Newtown Anner Stud-owned gelding landed Limerick’s Conference & Banqueting Facilities @ Limerick Handicap under jockey Ben Coen. From the second crop of Gordon Elliott’s Railway Stakes-winner Beckford, Zenford had been placed in each of four previous starts and was beaten by just a short-head at the Curragh in May. Today, the three-year-old raced wide and eventually progressed to lead in the closing strides, to beat Venetian Star by a half-length. Murtagh’s assistant Denis Lenihan reported “he is a nice horse and is by what I think will be a good stallion (Beckford). “It turned out to be tough ground here but he did it well and was tough to the line. He seems ground-versatile and had a good run on good ground at the Curragh the last day. I think he will be a progressive horse and hopefully can end up winning some good handicaps.”
