Murtagh’s to wear different hat successfully at Tramore with Benbecula

Glory Boy looks a good bet at Listowel

Johnny Murtagh should be on the mark as a trainer with Benbecula at Tramore.
Johnny Murtagh should be on the mark as a trainer with Benbecula at Tramore.

Johnny Murtagh famously secured Epsom Derby glory on three occasions but with a new trainer hat on, his focus this afternoon switches to Tramore and saddling three runners around Waterford's own roller-coaster track.

Ben Curtis can carry the Andrew Tinkler colours to success on Benbecula in the mile-and-a-half conditions event but while Murtagh has booked Katie Walsh for Manuka in the concluding maiden, her sister-in-law Nina Carberry could prove a spoilsport on the locally-trained Darwins Fox.

It is two and a half years since the novice chaser won a race but Henry De Bromhead’s runner might just relish the forecast fast ground conditions.

Today's Derby jockeys Joseph O'Brien and Wayne Lordan will be at Listowel tomorrow for the opening maiden but both may be stumped by Pat Smullen on the Dermot Weld-trained Glory Boy who proved his effectiveness on soft ground when third at Leopardstown on his debut.

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Barry Geraghty is at Kilbeggan tomorrow and quicker going may help The Real Article's chances of finally getting off the mark over fences.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column