Captain Cullen and Ian Queally© Photo Healy Racing
Owned by trainer Joe Murray's fiancée, Lisa Sheridan (due to tie the knot on November 14th), Captain Cullen provided his connections with an early wedding present when triumphant in the Book 2016 Curragh Hospitality Handicap.
Based outside Navan with two in training, Murray got off the mark with the same horse over seven furlongs here in August.
Down to the sprint trip of five on this occasion, but with Ian Queally again in the plate, Captain Cullen achieved the win, in good style, by a length and a half from Sweetest Taboo
"He's won over five, six and seven now and that's his first win over five," said Murray of the 11/2 favourite.
"He had a couple of good runs in premier handicaps and we knew if he came up with those runs again he'd go close.
"He's probably not a typical five furlong sprinter but he is class.
"Ian gets on well with him and has from the start. Claiming 7lb off 10st 1lb is a big help.
"He's won twice here this year so it's brilliant and it was a bonus to get such good ground in October."
C. O'Donoghue, rider of Quiet Warrior trained by Adrian McGuinness, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount refused to jump off when the stalls opened and eventually started slowly.
(GC & EM)
