Murtagh proves to be the master craftsman again

Johnny Murtagh missed out on another classic win when he chose to ride Frozen Fire in Saturday"s English St Leger at Doncaster instead of the brilliant Septimus in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, but he enjoyed further group one success at the Kildare track the following day when Mastercraftsman won the National Stakes. Frozen Fire, winner of the Irish Derby when a 16/1 outsider ridden by Seamus Heffernan, ran way below par at the Yorkshire track where he finished seventh behind winner Conduit, while Septimus turned the Curragh stamina test into a procession with Heffernan doing the steering. The victory meant trainer Aidan O"Brien completed a clean sweep of this year"s Irish classics and he was also responsible for runner-up New Zealand which was beaten 13 lengths. Kells owner Norman Ormiston must have been very pleased with the performance of the consistent Red Moloney which was run out of second place by a short head under Chris Hayes. There was consolation for Murtagh at Doncaster that day when he recorded a double aboard the O"Brien-trained two year-old Westphalia, a 100/30 chance in the Champagne Stakes, and Jeremy Noseda"s Arabian Gleam (9/1) in the National Express Park Stakes. Murtagh was also in action at Doncaster on Friday when he won the Doncaster Cup aboard the O"Brien-trained 15/8 favourite Honolulu which hit the front a furlong from home and cruised clear to beat Balkan Knight by four lengths. The Faughan Hill ace was at his brilliant best at the Curragh on Sunday when Mastercraftsman, a drifter in the betting out to 9/4, turned in a gritty performance in testing ground to beat British raider Shaweel by a short head in the National Stakes. Mastercraftsman had oozed class when winning the Phoenix Stakes seven weeks earlier, but this time it was all about courage as the ante-post favourite for next year"s English 2000 Guineas battled to the gamest of victories. Murtagh went on to complete a double when partnering the David Watchman-trained What"s Up Pussycat, the 4/1 joint favourite, to another short head success in the listed Blenheim Stakes. Roof Fiddle, owned by Ormiston and ridden by Declan McDonagh for the Kevin Prendergast stable, was second. McDonogh had won the opener for Prendergast when Nafaath (4/1) beat Lamzena Lady by a length and a half in a maiden. Stamullen trainer Tom McCourt won the premier handicap at the Curragh on Saturday when 7/1 chance Khukhov, owned by Barry Doyle and the mount of Amy Kathleen Parsons, scored by a length and a half from Six Of Hearts which is owned by the Round Tower Syndicate in Kells and trained by Cecil Ross. The runner-up was ridden by Fran Berry and was the 4/1 favourite. McCourt also enjoyed a success at Cork on Friday when Rue De Cabestan, which was partnered by talented claimer Ben Curtis, obliged at 9/1 in a one mile handicap, beating Just Like Ivy by a length and a quarter. The runner-up is trained by Pat Martin, owned by Michael Rogers and was ridden by Declan McDonogh. Irene Monaghan was on the mark at Tramore the same evening when 16/1 chance Solomons Secret won the two mile maiden hurdle in the hands of Josh Byrne. The Definite Article gelding was nibbled at in the market from 20/1 and beat Brochure by a length and a half. There was also racing at the Waterford track on Saturday and Martin enjoyed better fortune when Lucky Spring, which was partnered by Andrew Thornton, justified 3/1 favouritism in a handicap hurdle, beating Mano Boy by 13 lengths. Nina Carberry won the bumper for the Margaret Mullins stable when Howyakeepan, the 9/4 favourite, beat Benefit Of Porter by two lengths. Trainer Steve Mahon and jockey Barry Geraghty teamed up for a success at Galway on Monday evening of last week when the Jimmy Swan-owned 11/4 joint favourite The Quiet Enforcer won a maiden hurdle by a length and three-quarters from Mel Del. Dundalk Stadium has benefited from the loss of so much racing at other tracks by being awarded additional fixtures. They raced on the all-weather at the Co Louth venue on Monday evening and will again host meetings next Friday (evening) and Saturday.