'Deadly' Urban Beat strikes to keep good times rolling for Coen and Murtagh

Johnny Murtagh and his young stable jockey Ben Coen are certainly enjoying life at the moment.

A brilliant success in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot with Create Belief, a Listed success here on Saturday with Fourhometwo and even an excellent fourth with Earlswood in the Irish Derby had made it a memorable ten days for the combination, and that was added to with the victory of topweight Urban Beat in the €100,000 Paddy Power Rockingham.

This six-year-old has helped put Murtagh on the map as a trainer, this being his sixth career victory, and the single-mindedness of his rider was a key here.

Coen had said beforehand that he was going to race on the stands' side, and he was as good as his word. Of his weighing room colleagues, only two others agreed with him as the other 14 runners all went towards the far side, and despite being on his own on the stands' rail for the last two furlongs, he confidently galloped to the line to see off tough campaigner Master Matt by two lengths.

"We said we'd let him bowl along in handicap company. He jumped, pinged the gates, travelled with me and quickened up from two down," said Coen.

"He got a bit lonely in the last 50 yards but that's to be expected as it's a lonely place when you are in front that long. He had to be hardy and he was. I'm delighted as he's a deadly horse, everyone loves him in the yard so it's nice to get his head in front."

Velocidad maintains perfect record

Joseph O'Brien's frustrations over the previous couple of days were not improved by his newcomer Point Gellibrand running out an unlucky loser of the opening two-year-old maiden, but what proved a memorable day for Owning Hill began in earnest when Gleneagles filly Velocidad made it two out of two in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes.

Velocidad: scored at Group 2 level on just her second startCredit: Patrick McCann

The aptly-named juvenile was inspired as she showed no end of early speed for Declan McDonogh and picked up well close home to score by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Yet.

O'Brien said: "She won nicely and she looks a good filly. She has always shown a lot of speed and even did so today, although she comes from a staying family. I don't know where we go next but the Cheveley Park would look to be the long term target."

Amhran Na Bhfiann on song

Aidan O'Brien had drawn a blank in all of the Listed and Group races over the weekend but the champion trainer took his final opportunity on Sunday as last year's Derby third Amhran Na Bhfiann landed the Comer Group International Curragh Cup under an enterprising ride from Colin Keane.

The son of Galileo maintained a strong gallop all the way to the line to land the 1m6f Group 2 by seven lengths from Pondus.

"He's coming forward and I would say that's his trip," said O'Brien. "He's a good honest horse and I imagine he will come back here for the Irish St Leger."

Amhran Na Bhfiann: last year's Derby third convincingly slammed his rivals in the Curragh CupCredit: Patrick McCann

Biggest success for Brown

After Allora Yeats was an unlucky loser in Friday's Apprentice Derby, local trainer Katy Brown had considerable recompense when her stable stalwart Effernock Fizz made all under Niall McCullagh to land the €50,000 1m4f premier handicap.

Being in front was a profitable place to be in the long-distance races on the card, and the rider had no doubt about where he was going to go.

McCullagh told Racing TV: "She is very tough and brave. After watching the Curragh Cup in the weighing room and seeing what Colin Keane did on Amhran Na Bhfiann, I joked with the boys that I was going to do the same. And I did!"

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