It was a day to remember at Gowran Park on Friday afternoon for Rochelle Murphy as she rode her first winner.
Fittingly it was at her local track that the Ballymurphy, Co. Carlow native recorded her landmark success as she teamed up with the Barry Fitzgerald-trained Could Be Trouble to land the Best Of Luck to the Irish at Cheltenham Mares Maiden Hurdle.
That six-year-old mare had been seen in point-to-point action during the season for Fitzgerald’s brother Aidan for whom Murphy has ridden for in recent season’s and she was aboard the daughter of Yeats when she finished fourth in a mares’ maiden at Borris House back in November.
Sporting the colours of Aidan Fitzgerald’s wife Ashling, Murphy was never too far away from the pace aboard the well-supported 5/2 shot and once moving through to pick up the lead with three to jump the pair were never headed as they began to assert at the last, ultimately pulling 15 lengths clear at the line.
“She was brilliant, everything went to plan. She travelled and jumped and handled the ground which is the most important thing today and toughed it out for me so I’m delighted with her,” said the winning rider.
“We knew that she would stay and knew she would tough it out so there was no concerns that way at all.
“We were very unlucky the last day we kind of ran into trouble everywhere and it didn’t go to plan whatsoever, so Barry was very good to put her back up on her again today to redeem myself.
“I nearly had to pinch myself turning for home. I had a look over my shoulder and I said jesus where are all the lads gone, so I am absolutely delighted. There is no feeling like it and it’s a long time coming, it’s brilliant, it’s everything that I thought it would be.
“I’m delighted to finally get the monkey off my back.”
