Gates Of Rome scores for Cooper & Murphy Gates Of Rome landed a bit of gamble as he took the Michael O'Murchadha Memorial Novice Handicap Hurdle under Bryan Cooper for trainer Colm Murphy. The 9yo son of Luso opened at 11/2 with Paddy Powers last night but was well backed and opened on track at just 5/2, the price which he went off at. Salesin attempted to make all for Boots and Slippers Madden but he was headed after two out by Gates Of Rome and Blacklough. Gates Of Rome then hit the front on the run to the last and went on from there to record an easy six and a half-length success over Salesin who plugged on to take second at 16/1. Owenacurra Milan ran on well to take third at 25/1 under Danny Mullins for Mary Louise Hallahan while the 6/4 favourite Supreme Carolina ran no sort of race and finished a well beaten sixth under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins. Colm Murphy said afterwards: "He deserved that as he was unlucky to come up against a horse who was well in the last day (Lookoutnow at Gowran). "He lost his way over fences but hopefully that will have given him a bit of confidence. "Bryan is riding out of his skin at the moment and he is a nice man to have on your side. "We will see what the owners want to do now and he may have another run over hurdles." Additional reporting by Alan Magee
