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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Deserved win for consistent Rosie

Fri 8th Jan 2016, 20:26

Rock On Rosie (nearest) comes through to head the favourite Jimmy KellyRock On Rosie (nearest) comes through to head the favourite Jimmy Kelly
© Photo Healy Racing

After finishing second on four of her last five starts Rock On Rosie got a deserved win to her name as she took the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Maiden.

Successful in two hurdles last summer the daughter of Gamut finished second on her all-weather debut in November, before again filling the runner-up spot on her most recent visit to the course.

Dropped back in trip to a mile and two this evening she was sent off the well-backed 5/2 (4/1 this morning and from 3's on-course) second favourite.

Settled in third by Ronan Whelan she was pushed along to challenge from the two furlong pole, getting to the front inside the final furlong before staying on well close home to score by two lengths in the colours of Geraldine Devine. Belong (6's to 5's on-course) kept on well to take second for Ana and Aidan O'Brien, while the 6/5 favourite Jimmy Kelly faded inside the final furlong and finished a length back in third under Billy Lee for Willie McCreery.

Winning trainer Adrian Joyce said afterwards: "That was badly due. She's been a bit unlucky.

"It was my own fault as I wanted her ridden like that over a mile-and-a-half and then they were going no pace. It was a different plan tonight and it worked.

"She's a very consistent mare. I think she has a very low hurdles mark as she works a lot better at home.

"Hopefully we'll have a bit of fun with her. She'll get a break now and come back for summer racing.

"She's versatile ground wise as she's won on soft and will go on good ground. I wouldn't run her on firm ground though."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson