'I'm wicked lucky to have her - I bred her, train her and ride her every day'

Sunday: Punchestown

Racing spent the weekend shooting itself in the foot, but the scenes after Darrens Hope won the Grade 2 Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase proved that the sport still emits emotions very few other things in life can reach.

Robert Murphy, a full-time farmer and part-time trainer, led his pride and joy into the winner's enclosure after the 20-1 success and he could have won the Irish Lotto and EuroMillions in the same weekend, but it would not have meant as much to him.

"I've been milking cows all my life but I've always had a love for horses," said Murphy. "Since I was a child I've loved horses and I'm lucky to have a good mare like her.

"Her mother [Darrens Lass] was a great mare but she's every bit as good as her and I'm wicked lucky to have her. It was great to be able to come up today and run in a Grade 2. I bred her, train her and ride her out every morning."

Whatever Murphy is doing is working as she snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the final stride, getting back up to beat Minella Crooner, who made a satisfactory start to his chasing career.

Winning jockey Danny Mullins said of the winning trainer: "Bob is unique. He has a small team that can produce it on the big day. To come up here to take on the big stables and beat them, that's a fair achievement."

Delta delivers – just

Delta Work remains the general 15-8 favourite to complete back-to-back wins in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when receiving a Jack Kennedy masterclass to land the Risk Of Thunder Chase.

The 4-6 favourite scored by a short head from 40-1 outsider Singing Banjo and trainer Gordon Elliott said he will have one more start before the festival, possibly at Cheltenham in January.

Runners jump Ruby's Double in the Risk Of Thunder won by Delta Work (maroon cap, centre)Credit: Patrick McCann (Racingpost.com/photos)

He said: "Jack said it took him a while to get going, he said he was very sticky early. There is a race in January at Cheltenham for him or he could maybe run in the Boyne Hurdle.

"We try to do different things with him at home these days. We take him away to a lot of different places to school."

Nusret stamps Triumph claims

Joseph O'Brien won the John Lynch Carpets 3-Y-O Hurdle, but not with favourite Good Heavens.

Instead, it was the well-backed Nusret who entered the Triumph Hurdle picture and was introduced at around a general 16-1 for the Cheltenham Festival contest.

Nusret (right): won the 3-Y-O hurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (Racingpost.com/photos)

Winning jockey Daryl Jacob was impressed and said: "He's always shown a nice attitude to schooling. I've schooled him a couple of times at Joseph's and liked him."

Terrific Townend

It is only mid-November but you will not witness many better rides this season than the one Paul Townend gave Shewearsitwell to land the 3m Pertemps qualifier.

The five-time champion managed to conjure a late surge out of the 8-1 shot, who traded much bigger on the exchanges in-running, and she got up to beat My Immortal by a neck.

Trainer Willie Mullins said: "She stays well and I'd imagine now that she's qualified we'll have the final as our main aim for the season. It's very seldom I have a runner in that race and I don't feel any need to run her again before it."

Late drama

There was late drama as Lecky Watson, sent off 4-7 favourite for the concluding bumper, lost the race in the stewards' room.

They deemed that interference inside the final furlong was sufficient to reverse the result and awarded the race to Cato Capone and Jamie Codd, who completed a double on the card for Gordon Elliott.

Cooper doubles up

Bryan Cooper helped himself to a 38-1 double thanks to victories aboard Farceur Du Large in the 2m6½f handicap chase and Monbeg Park in the 2m5½f maiden hurdle.

Results, replays and analysis

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