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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Quick turnaround no issue for well-backed Madera

Thu 19th Apr 2018, 19:54

Madera Express is ridden out by Richie DeeganMadera Express is ridden out by Richie Deegan
© Photo Healy Racing

The well-backed Madera Express showed no ill-effects from her run on Tuesday, as she came home a comfortable winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race.

Successful in a point-to-point at Ballinaboola in February, the Peter Fahey trained daughter of Milan then finished a good third to Carefully Selected on her racecourse debut at Naas.

She was a well-beaten eighth to Tintangle in a Listed contest over the course on Tuesday, and was stepped up in trip to two and a half miles today.

Available at 9/1 in early shows, she opened on-course at just 5s before going off a 3/1 joint-favourite in the colours of owner Noel Doyle.

Settled behind the leaders, she took closer order from five furlongs out, and hit the front early in the straight. keeping on well from there to score by two lengths.

Fellow point-to-point winner Stucker Hill plugged on nicely to take second under Johnny Barry for Bill Lanigan, while newcomer Inagh's Gift (16s to 8s on-course) was another four and a quarter lengths back in third.

Ifyoucatchmemow was the other joint-favourite, and she finished fourth.

"I'm delighted for the Doyles as they've been great supporters of mine," said Fahey.

"They have the whole family at home and it's great to win a bumper with her as she's the first out of an unraced mare.

"When we were walking out of here the other night she wasn't running but when I saw the small field we decided to have a look.

"She's off out for the summer now and we'll have her back early in the autumn to go hurdling."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

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.