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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Miss Snossyboots bosses it from the front

Fri 3rd May 2019, 19:40

Runners break from the stalls with eventual winner Miss Snossyboots nearestRunners break from the stalls with eventual winner Miss Snossyboots nearest
© Photo Healy Racing

Miss Snossyboots made it three wins on the bounce, as she made all in the feature at Dundalk this evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.

Trained by Mick Halford, the five-year-old daughter of Rip Van Winkle won her first race at the venue in March, before following-up last month.

Both those wins came over a mile and a half, and slightly down in trip to a mile and three this evening, she was sent off the 15/8 favourite (from 9/4 on-course) under Ronan Whelan.

Pushed along from the stalls to lead, the Nichols Hartery owned victor was ridden over a furlong out, and kept on well for pressure, going on to score by two and a half lengths. Sheisdiesel (11/4), who was seeking her fifth win in-a-row at the venue, didn't have the clearest of runs in the straight, but ultimately couldn't reel-in the winner, and had to settle for second under Colin Keane for Noel Meade.

Halford said afterwards: "Her mother (Nick's Nikita) started out as a handicapper and ended up in a Group Three for us, so we'll see where we end up.

"She's very genuine and takes her racing great. She is improving with every run and is so straightforward.

"I wasn't worried about dropping back in trip the way she was working.

"It was a lovely race for fillies only and a good prize, there's a lovely programme for fillies."

Ronan Whelan added: "One thing I didn't want was it turning into a sprint. She's very uncomplicated and just likes an even gallop.

"She's definitely a filly on the up and she was oozing confidence with me.

"Just coming down the back I tried to get a little breather into her. Turning in I just wanted to stretch them and kind of have them half off the bridle. I didn't want them getting it easy.

"She had a bit left for me when I wanted to go in the last furlong."

STEWARDS REPORT

S. Foley, rider of Bit Of Banter trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never acted on the surface.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham

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.