18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Ireland's youngest trainer gets off the mark

Wed 12th Aug 2015, 20:09

One for the mantelpiece - Eddie Linehan with Aurelia CottaOne for the mantelpiece - Eddie Linehan with Aurelia Cotta
© Photo Healy Racing

Eddie Linehan, the youngest trainer in Ireland at twenty-three, recorded his first success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap as his Aurelia Cotta made all to win under his brother Denis (second win).

After enjoying plenty of success in the saddle Linehan was granted his trainers licence earlier this summer and saddled his first runner at Gowran on June 30th.

Aurelia Cotta was well-backed today and while she was available at 9/1 in the morning she opened on-course at just 5's before going off a 4/1 chance.

Sent straight to the front she was pressed from three furlongs out but found plenty under pressure and asserted over a furlong from home, keeping on well to score by two and a quarter lengths. Maudlin Magdalen finished second at 6/1 under Ian Queally for Donal Kinsella while Vitalized (25/1) was a further head back in third under Rory Cleary for Jim Bolger.

Winning owner Brendan Murphy from Mallow said afterwards: "We've been waiting 12 months for that. She did it well and is progressing all the time.

"Eddie (who is based at Glantane near Mallow) has about ten horses at the moment, and they are mainly for the winter."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Gallope trained by Mrs Prunella Dobbs, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be showing signs of being in season(samples taken for analysis).

F.M. Berry, rider of Gallope trained by Mrs Prunella Dobbs, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

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.