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3.10pm Johnny Murtagh Irish champion jockey
Johnny Murtagh was crowned the champion Flat jockey in Ireland for the fifth time.
Having started the day three clear of Pat Smullen, an early win on John Oxx's Takar in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden helped tighten Murtagh's grip on the trophy.
The 11-4 favourite could be spotted travelling strongly before the turn for home and devoured the ground in the straight to win as he liked by eight lengths from Place Vendome.
With Smullen unable to get his head in front in the following two races, Murtagh was confirmed as champion.
Speaking after Takar's success, Oxx said: "It's great for Johnny. He has been determined all year. It's been a big effort and he has shown enthusiasm and dedication, and is still one of the best in Europe."
1.45pm Halley wins Maurice Gillois for Tom George
The Tom George-trained Halley won the informative Maurice Gillois at Auteuil under a storming ride from David Cottin.
Halley, on his second start for George who also co-owns the four-year-old, led for much of the race but having been headed by Dumet at the last battled back under Cottin's urging to take the race in the final stride.
Cottin was on board Long Run when the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner won this race two years ago, but it would be a stretch of the imagination to suggest the gutsy Halley, who certainly does not lack for stamina, is in that class on this running.
Today's best bets, by Chris Cook
I hope and trust you all had a successful Breeders' Cup last night, though the odds are against it, considering some of the results. There were winners at 65-1 and 42-1 as well as a handful of other head-scratchers. Nor was it an especially wonderful night for the jockeys with whom we're familiar. Tom Queally, William Buick, Richard Hughes and Kieren Fallon had six rides between them but the casual observer may not have noticed they were there.
But Ryan Moore looked as polished as any top-flight international jockey in winning on Wrote and the O'Brien clan's response to Joseph's success on St Nicholas Abbey was really touching.
Olivier Peslier has ridden many a fine race but I really didn't like his effort on Goldikova in the Mile, when he seemed to completely lose his self-control, barging his way out from behind horses and then frantically beating her bum as the challengers came to her. As it turns out, she was probably not going to win this under almost any ride, but it was a pity to see her career closed out like this.
Mind you, when I ventured these thoughts on Twitter last night, I found plenty of disagreement, so do watch the video here and make up your own mind.
There's top-class racing of a different kind over in France today, where it's Prix La Haye Jousselin day at Auteuil. James Reveley has managed to get himself a ride in the Grade 1 chase but, as Frolon has fallen three times since his last victory, I doubt he'll be bagging the �200,000 first prize.
Possibly of more significance to British race fans is the previous race, a four-year-old jumps race called the Maurice Gillois. You may never have heard of it but is worth paying attention because it was won two years ago by Long Run and last year by Kauto Stone, who hacked up in a Grade Two at Down Royal yesterday on his first run for Paul Nicholls. Whichever beast wins today, there is every chance you will be seeing it at Cheltenham in due course.
Wrapping up the international theme, it's the Cork Grand National today and I like the chances of a repeat victory by Streets Of Gold (2.15), whose need for quite specific conditions (especially a right-handed track and some cut) make him tricky to place. Connections have done well to get him back here on a mark only 4lb higher than the one he won from last year and he had a nice warm-up in a hurdle race under a 7lb claimer last month. Christy Roche seems to have his string well forward.
David Bridgwater appears to be making a proper go of this training lark. His seven wins last season was a career high and he has already matched it this term. His Wyck Hill (2.50) ran on dourly to make a winning chasing debut at Chepstow and the extra quarter-mile at Market Rasen today holds no terrors. He is 9lb higher but still fairly priced at 5-2.
Click here for all the day's racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/nov/06/talking-horses-6-november
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