'It's great for a small team' - Norman Lee's She Is Electric upsets the big guns

Friday: Gowran Park

Fortune favoured the brave in the Listed Pat Walsh Memorial Irish EBF Mares Hurdle as trainer Norman Lee executed an audacious plan with tough mare She Is Electric.

It looked a lofty task for the recent Ballinrobe maiden hurdle winner, who was taking on the promising Willie Mullins-trained 6-4 favourite Champagne Problem.

However, under a bold front-running ride from Robbie Geoghegan, who was unable to utilise his 7lb claim, She Is Electric – who cost only €8,200 as a three-year-old – recorded a lucrative black-type success at odds of 16-1 having been backed down from 40-1.

Lee, who was also on lead-up duty, said: "We said we'd try to steal a march on them – if you're not brave you're nothing in life.

"Robbie gave her a super ride. He works for me every day and was in the yard at 6am this morning riding out in the pouring rain.

'We always knew she was decent – she had a few little problems early on – but she's a valuable filly now'Credit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

"We always knew she was decent – she had a few little problems early on – but she's a valuable filly now, a proper little one.

"We're over the moon. It's great for our small team at home and we'll stay small because you get your job done that bit better."

Better times ahead

Sam Curling looks to have a useful novice hurdling prospect on his hands with Troubled Times, who showed a fine attitude to land the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mucklemeg Mares' INH Flat Race for owner-breeder Willie Cleary.

The six-year-old benefited from an excellent ride from Derek O'Connor, who sought the best ground while charting a much shorter path than his rivals.

Curling said: "She's a lovely filly and it's massive that she's got black type. Derek was brilliant on her – he felt he'd seen a strip of ground down the inner when walking the track. We'll go novice hurdling now."

Foley rides out claim

Trainer Philip Rothwell and jockey Jack Foley were on top form with a 90-1 double that meant last season's champion conditional rode out his claim.

Berliet Express got the ball rolling with a comprehensive 6-1 win in the 2m handicap hurdle before Dont Doubt Me received a clever ride to take the second 2m4f handicap hurdle on the card.

Bittersweet for Keoghan

Trainer Michael Keoghan recorded his first winner under rules in bittersweet circumstances as his 2m handicap hurdle winner Sea Of Sands was found to have sustained a likely career-ending injury upon pulling up.

Hat-trick for Water

It was a fine training performance from Des McDonagh to achieve a hat-trick with the JP McManus-owned Moving Water in the first 2m4f handicap hurdle on the card, rewarding Mark Walsh with a winner on his only ride of the day.

Results, replays and analysis

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