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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Bondage eases to ninth career success

Mon 13th May 2013, 18:36

Bondage & Declan Lavery on their way to an easy win in the second at KillarneyBondage & Declan Lavery on their way to an easy win in the second at Killarney
© Photo Healy Racing

The well-backed Bondage ran out an easy winner of the Laurels Bar Hurdle for trainer Gordon Elliott with Declan Lavery in the saddle.

The six-year-old was 5/2 last night with Paddy Powers, opening on track at 9/4 before being strongly supported, going off the 15/8 clear favourite.

The white-faced son of Whipper impressively disposed of Gold Bullet at Down Royal a week ago today and he repeated the dose this evening, hitting the front turning for home, asserting on the run to the last and soon going clear to win easily by eight lengths. Midnight Oil who drifted from 11/4 last night to 10/3 at the off, finished second under Ruby Walsh for Willie Mullins while last year’s winner Won In The Dark could only manage a disappointing fifth.

Declan Lavery, who was recording his fifth win of the new season, said afterwards: "He was winging the hurdles and was really enjoying it.

"We went very steady but he quickened up from the second last and he would have went on again if another horse had challenged him.

"I had one ride for Gordon before as an amateur but this is my first for him as a professional."

The Bodhran Makers Syndicate owned gelding was recording his ninth career success today.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

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.