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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Darenjan appreciates the good ground

Thu 4th Apr 2013, 17:35

Darenjan takes off at the last under Andrew McNamaraDarenjan takes off at the last under Andrew McNamara
© Photo Healy Racing

Darenjan provided trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon with a welcome win as he took the Thurles Racecourse Handicap Chase under Andrew McNamara.

The versatile 10yo son of Alhaarth was recording his eighth career success today and he was sent off at 11/1.

Having chased the leaders for much of the contest he made headway into third at the fourth last fence.

The 3/1 favourite Uncle Tom Cobley who was around five lengths clear, then made a bad mistake at the third last and Darenjan took advantage of this as he took up the running.

He was ridden before the last and he kept on well to record a comfortable eight length success from the Conor O’Dwyer trained, Davy Russell ridden Uncle Tom Cobley in second.

The front duo went thirteen lengths clear of Moiqen who finished third at 4/1 under Mark Walsh for Philip Byrne.

Hanlon said afterwards: "He is better on good ground and he just never got it last year. He will go to Punchestown for something now.

"The horses are beginning to come back into form. I had a point-to-point winner recently and Rachel (his partner Rachel O’Neill) won the Charity Race on Clondaw Warrior on Tuesday.

"I have forty horses in and they are all summer horses, I don’t really have any winter horses."

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.