JOE Murphy again has his sights on Galway with Swamp Fox (8/1) after he followed-up a Ballinrobe win in Killarney's Dawn Milk Run Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Barry Browne.

The five-year-old won the Connacht Hotel Handicap for amateur riders at Ballybrit 12 months ago.

Murphy said: "He is just a courageous horse and is fierce game and all he does is eats, sleeps and runs.

"We have him in Galway in the amateur handicap, the Hurdle and in a mile-and-a-half handicap so we'll see what happens. All options are open. I always thought this horse would go to the top as he has the right attitude for racing and it's well to have him.

"Barry's 7lb claim was vital in a race like that and he knows the horse and gets on well with him."

The life of a jump jockey was perfectly illustrated as Andrew Lynch won the Dawn Hi + Lo Milk Beginners Chase aboard the Henry de Bromhead-trained Our Dougal, the 9/4 joint-favourite. Just 30 minutes earlier Lynch took a crashing fall from Mr Picotee in the race won by Swamp Fox.

De Bromhead said: "In fairness he deserved that and has had some cracking runs and I'm delighted for the Mangans (owners).

"There's plenty fun to be had with him and while he made mistakes in the past, jumped impeccably there and Andrew gives him such confidence jumping.

"He'll run in the Grade 3 two-mile-two novice chase at Galway next.Jimmy (Mangan) goes to Galway every year so I'd imagine he'll run there."

GOOD PERFORMANCE

Useful bumper performer Le Richebourg made it two wins from as many starts over timber in the Killarney Welcomes Bordeaux Novice Hurdle.

Sent off the 8/13 favourite, the JP McManus-owned four-year-old had six and a half lengths to spare over Timi Roli in the Hurricane Fly colours.

Trainer Joseph O'Brien said: "It was a good performance. They went very slow and sprinted down over the last three and it was nice to see him win. He was long at the third-last and got a bit close to the second-last, but was good at the last and, on the whole, he jumps well.

"Jody (McGarvey) said he came back on the bridle very quick after his mistake at the second-last and he is a nice horse who can progress.

"I'd hope he'll run during the winter as it was good and soft when he ran twice in bumpers and his bumper form is top-class. He wouldn't run on any ground better than today and we'll try and mind him."

O'Brien and McManus doubled up through the J.J Slevin-ridden Immortal Bridge (2/1 favourite), who beat stablemate Hallmark by a length and three-quarters in the Killarney Grand Live Music Venue Handicap Hurdle.

The trainer said: "They both ran very well and J.J.'s horse seemed to get the trip very well and he gave him a great ride. He was a decent horse on the flat and seems to have taken to hurdling but he's a lazy horse, and has been his whole life – that's why he wears blinkers. I don't think he's ungenuine but he just takes a bit of riding. We'll find another handicap hurdle with him next."

He added of Hallmark: "I think he'll go back for another handicap hurdle and today was his first time going that trip, so that opens up a few more doors for him."

FIRST SUCCESS

Trainer Michael Kennedy recorded his first racecourse success, with his brother Paddy steering Touch Of Gold (12/1) to victory in the Europe Hotel & Resort Handicap Hurdle.

He said: "She is a consistent mare and I was a bit worried about the ground as it wasn't as slow as I thought it was. She'll probably go to Galway for an 80-109 on the first day or she'll run on the flat.

"You need to produce her late as she has one burst and that's it and he was lucky with the run he got down the inside – we had luck today but were unlucky a few other days."

Asked who would ride when younger brother Jack Kennedy returns from injury, he quipped: "As long as Paddy keeps winning on him he'll keep the ride!"

READ THE FULL KILLARNEY REPORT IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD