Alice wins for Murphy & Townend

Gentle Alice the outsider of the six runner field, sprang a surprise in winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase under a well timed run by Paul Townend.

The daughter of Beneficial won easily at Limerick over Christmas beating Shirley Casper by twelve lengths and finished a creditable fourth to For Bill on her last start at Thurles but bookmakers put her in here as the 10/1 outsider here today with Osirixamix sent off the even money favourite. Uncle Tom Cobley made the running before the winner was ridden to challenge approaching the last and stayed on well up the straight to fend off the run of the only other mare in the race, Coscorrig by three parts of a length with a further two lengths back to the aforementioned Uncle Tom Cobley.

The strongly backed favourite Osirixamix weakened quickly approaching two out and was pulled up before the last.

Winning trainer Donie Murphy said after the race "I'm thrilled and she will go for the Mares race (the Listed, Dawn Run Chase) in two weeks time at Limerick.”