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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

First winner for Levins as Carroll doubles up

Wed 12th Jun 2013, 20:02

Jumbo Steps & Gary Carroll on their way to victory for trainer Johnny LevinsJumbo Steps & Gary Carroll on their way to victory for trainer Johnny Levins
© Photo Healy Racing

Johnny Levins, who tasted plenty of success in the saddle, recorded his first win in the training ranks as his Jumbo Steps ran out a game victor of the Follow Fairyhouse On Twitter Handicap, providing his rider Gary Carroll with a double on the card.

Formerly trained by Tim Doyle, the six-year-old son of Footstepsinthesand was making his debut for Levins this evening and on his twenty-four start, he was finally getting off the mark.

Sent off at 9/1, the Seamus Mannion owned gelding, made all, coming home a length and a quarter too good for the Peter Fahey trained Right Divine who kept on well to take second at 25/1 under Ronan Whelan. Samollie was a further three parts of a length back in third at 9/2 under Shane Foley for Garvan Donnelly, while the 9/4 favourite Smoke Charger could only manage fifth under Colm O’Donoghue for Paul Deegan.

Levins, who is thirty-two, said afterwards; "I'm training on the Curragh and I only have my licence a few weeks.

"All credit goes to Gary (Carroll) really. He rides work for me every Friday and he was really sweet on him.

"I’m only learning about this horse as I haven’t had him for too long but he has been working very well.

"He is entered up over the weekend (Limerick on Saturday and Cork on Sunday) and I might run him again.

"I’m delighted for his owner Seamus Mannion. He was a great supporter of mine in my riding days and he has a couple of nice horses with me."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
9/1
Tote €12.20 €3.00
2nd
1.25L
25/1
€11.30
3rd
0.75L
9/2
€1.90
4th
hd
14/1
bf
1.25L
9/4Fav
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.