Upton trainer John Murphy takes Curragh feature race with White Birch

Upton trainer John Murphy enjoyed another notable victory with White Birch here at The Curragh this afternoon. 

The diminutive grey four-year-old added to another Curragh success in last month's Alleged Stakes. 

White Birch landed the traditional Bank Holiday feature, the Group Two Coolmore Stud Sottsass Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes. 

Colin Keane kept up his impressive strike rate aboard the improving son of Ulysses.

He finished third in last year's Derby at Epsom behind Auguste Rodin.

A return visit to Epsom for the Coronation Cup is on the cards next month. 

He shortened to 12/1 for that Group One contest on the back of today's impressive victory. 

He'd run below par in the Irish Derby last July and again disappointed in Group 3 company on his final outing last year at Leopardstown. 

Like last season he showed his ability to run well fresh.He made a winning return here last month. 

Colin Keane always had him prominent today, assuming control travelling ominously well over two furlongs out. 

Once Keane pushed the button he quickly asserted and powered clear.

His market rival the well supported Maxux couldn't get involved and it was Lord Massusus and Greenland to chase home the easy winner.

George Murphy, the assistant trainer and John’s son, was really pleased with today's victory. 

“He travelled nicely, it was by far his best performance. We couldn’t be happier with that."

He has options now with the Tattersalls Gold Cup back here in June on Guineas weekend sure to be considered, given his liking for the Curragh.

The Coronation Cup at Epsom is the other big option. 

Horses can really thrive as four year olds and the hope is that improvement continues through the summer. 

His Achilles heel last season was his tendency to blow the start. That hasn't resurfaced so far this season. 

He clearly gets on really well with Colin Keane.

The grey son of Ulysses first showed a modicum of promise on debut at Naas on the final day of the 2022 turf season. 

But we really sat up and took notice when he put up a scintillating performance in a two-year-old maiden at Dundalk beating a useful yardstick by six and a half lengths. 

Last season started equally well before tailing off somewhat. 

But he's hit the ground running this season and has bigger fish to fry going forward.