KILKENNY trainer Murt Leahy enjoyed more big-race success in Cork as Ballybough Champ ran out a deserving winner of the €4,500 Deadly Kennels Open 750 final.
The 6-4 second choice of the punters came away well from trap five and was in pole position early on.
Owned by popular city publican Pat Carroll, the winner went into the final unbeaten and had to dig deep throughout as favourite Magical Poppy was showing a lot of pace after a poor start.
Champ stayed on strongly throughout and crossed the line with a length and a half to spare from Poppy, in 41.76.
A couple minutes earlier at Shelbourne Park, Raha Mofo ran out a brilliant winner of the opening semi-final of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks for Marissa Molloy and Murt Leahy.
Rarely has an Oaks semi-final been over so early but once the powerful daughter of Droopy’s Sydney and Clare’s Queen came away racing from trap three to lead the field in the early yards, there was never going to be any other winner.
She has now booked her spot in the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks Final.
