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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Prince now 4 from 6 after Joe McGrath win

Sun 28th Sep 2014, 17:13

Prince Connoisseur leads them home under Fran BerryPrince Connoisseur leads them home under Fran Berry
© Photo Healy Racing

Prince Connoisseur recorded his fourth win on his sixth career start as he took the valuable Manguard Plus Joe McGrath Handicap under Fran Berry for Johnny Feane.

The three-year-old son of Art Connoisseur scored on his debut at Dundalk in January before following up at Tipperary in June.

He then disappointed at Bellewstown and finished last when tried in Listed company at Fairyhouse in July.

He bounced back to his best when winning at Dundalk last month and wearing blinkers for the first time today he was sent off at 10/1.

After showing good early speed the chestnut victor got to the front after a furlong and he soon tacked over to the rail.

He was ridden a furlong and a half from home and he kept on well inside the final furlong to score comfortably by three parts of a length.

There was a bunch finish for the minor placings with Captain Cullen (9/1) getting up to take second under Seamie Heffernan for Ger Keane while Shipyard (9/1 to 6/1 on-course) was half a length back in third under Chris Hayes for Andrew Oliver. Kernoff was sent off the well-backed 9/2 favourite (from 13/2) and he kept on well to finish fourth after not getting much luck in running.

Johnny Feane said afterwards: "He was my first winner and has been a great horse for me (fourth win this year). That was a great performance for a three-year-old, and I'm delighted that he's won.

"I'll probably put him away now and give him a chance to strengthen up. Fran gave him a lovely ride, and the blinkers worked a trick. It's not that he's ungenuine, he's just a little bit idle.

"The owner, Angel Li, is from Macau and that is her first runner in Ireland."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
10/1
Tote €12.40 €2.80
2nd
0.75L
9/1
€2.10
3rd
0.5L
6/1
€2.70
4th
shd
9/2Fav
€1.80
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.