Gentle Alice impresses at Limerick

Gentle Alice put up an impressive display to land the Woodlands House Mares Beginners Steeplechase by twelve lengths from the odds-on favourite Shirley Casper at Limerick.

Never too far from the front under Mick Darcy, the successful daughter of Beneficial jumped brilliantly and she stayed on really well up the straight to prevail with lots in hand.

Winning trainer Daniel 'Donnie' Murphy, from Midleton, said: "She came on from her last run (an unlucky fourth at Thurles). She won a point-to-point and her maiden hurdle at Thurles. Chasing was always going to be her game. I'm not sure where we'll go now but there is a listed mares chase in Thurles at the end of January and she might go there."