Could Be Trouble and Rochelle Murphy pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Rochelle Murphy partnered her first winner in the Best Of Luck To The Irish At Cheltenham Mares Maiden Hurdle, as the well-backed Could Be Trouble came home an easy winner.
Trained locally by Barry Fitzgerald, who was also successful with newcomer Jumping Jet at the venue earlier this month, the daughter of Yeats was sent off the 5/2 second favourite (earlier available at 11/2).
Out of a full-sister to Looks Like Trouble, the winner was previously trained by Peter Fahey and was placed in a bumper at Clonmel on her debut back in 2019.
She was an encouraging fifth behind Stockdale on her first start for Fitzgerald at Punchestown earlier this month and was sent off a 200/1 chance on that occasion.
Having raced mainly in second this afternoon, the six-year-old improved to lead before three out and kept on well when ridden before the last, going on to register a fifteen length win.
Notalossa (12/1) filled the runner-up spot under Ian Power for Margaret Flynn, while the Alan Donoghue trained Timeaday (18/1) was another eighteen lengths back in third.
Miss Clogher was sent off the 9/4 favourite and she finished a disappointing sixth.
Murphy, who is from Ballymurphy in Co Carlow, said: "That's my first winner. Everything went to plan and she did what we thought she would. She’s tough out and stayed going.
"I started off as a conditional with Barry's cousin Davy Fitzgerald and turned back amateur last year. I broke my pelvis but I'm getting back going now."
Barry Fitzgerald added: "My brother Aidan's wife Ashling owns her. Rochelle rides out for Aidan and she came in two days last week and gave her a school again. It's great for everyone.
"The yard is flying and that's our second winner in the last two weeks. She ran well the last day and coming back to two miles helped her. She galloped through the line on the soft ground.
"We'll see what the handicapper does and hopefully she'll pick up another one after that."
STEWARDS REPORT
Mr J.P. Kirwan, rider of Cluain Dun trained by Ms.M.Flynn, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made an abnormal respiratory noise in running.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
