John Murtagh had mixed fortunes at Dundalk yesterday evening when partnering a winner but also picking up a three-day whip suspension.
The former champion was banned for using his whip with excessive force and frequency aboard newcomer Gandon in the Drumcar Maiden. The Declan Gillespie-trained gelding appeared set to win a furlong out but was pegged back in the closing stages and beaten three quarters of a length by Goldnblues. The suspension runs from July 22nd-24th, and the Meathman will miss the Golden Pages meeting at Leopardstown.
Murtagh later chalked up his 32nd winner of the season when Joking Rebuff made most to take the Bar-One Racing Handicap. The seven-year-old gelding, providing Derry permit-holder Liam O'Kane with his first success, was sent clear inside the final quarter mile but only held on by a diminishing head from Grassland Star.
Frances Crowley and Pat Smullen, successful with Goldnblues, later doubled up with Amialone in the Carrickdale Handicap. The filly led over a furlong out to beat Murtagh's mount Colouring by a length and a half.
Fresh from claiming the Group Three July Stakes on Noverre at Newmarket, Jimmy Fortune went on to claim a 28 to 1 treble of winning favourites at Kempton Park yesterday evening.
Fortune made all on Caribbeandriftwood (15/8) in the Helical Bar EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes, took the Scaramanga Maiden Stakes with Cayman Sunset (2/1) and wrapped up the trio when Judaim (3/1) came fast and late to take the Shaken Not Stirred Handicap.
