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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Tornado lands gamble in style

Mon 16th Apr 2018, 18:13

Tornado Watch is ridden out by David MullinsTornado Watch is ridden out by David Mullins
© Photo Healy Racing

Tornado Watch landed a nice touch for his supporters in the Becks Lager Handicap Hurdle, scoring convincingly under David Mullins for his cousin Emmet.

As big as 16/1 in early shows, the nine-year-old son of Selkirk was well-backed throughout the day, opening on-course at just 10/3 before going off the second favourite at 11/4.

After racing in second, the chestnut victor hit the front from four out, and kept on well from the second last, going on to score by four and a half lengths on what was just his third start for owner/trainer Mullins.. She's Made It (16s to 12s on-course) ran well to finish second under Jody McGarvey for Padraig Roche, while Accordion Twilight (20/1) was another eight lengths back in third.

Littlestickofarubarb was the 2/1 favourite and she finished a disappointing fifth under Finian Maguire for his father Adrian.

The winning handler said afterwards: "That was great. It took us a few runs to figure him out. We were disappointed with him in Naas the last day we thought he'd go a bit better.

"After coming home and looking back on all his form, when he won he was going right-handed, and the two runs I had him for he was going left-handed.

"I think it was an advantage to be going right-handed today and thankfully it worked out."

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.