Neil O’Donnell

CLASS is permanent as Liam Burke’s 2016 Thyestes Chase hero My Murphy illustrated at Templenacarriga on Sunday by recording a game front-running success in the East Cork Oil open lightweight.

The 11-year-old My Murphy (5/1), had made a most encouraging return to action by finishing third in the Lingstown banks race in November. Here he led from the seventh fence and Richie Harding’s mount had runner-up Rue Hill as his only semblance of a threat from two out.

Although Rue Hill closed on the approach to the final fence, the eventual winner landed the faster here and dug deep to eclipse Denis Hickey’s representative by a neck, in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

The pair pulled 10 lengths clear of the third-placed finisher, Bothair Clei.

Former Barry Connell-owned Velvet Maker, who finished second to Douvan in the 2016 renewal of the Grade 1 Frank Ward & Co Solicitors Arkle Chase at Leopardstown, made his points debut here for the David Christie yard.

He was held in fifth spot when falling at the final fence.

Owner/trainer Burke indicated that My Murphy, who also chased home Djakadam in the 2015 Thyestes, will mix it between points and hunter chases with a possible tilt at the Tetretema Cup at Gowran Park in March now on the agenda for the gelding who runs in his trainers colours.