Philly's Hope makes winning start for McCourt

The 2/1 favourite Pimstrel was game in front in the second division of the Seamus Murphy Memorial Handicap but couldn’t quite last home as 33/1 chance Philly’s Hope got up on the line under local apprentice Robert Whearty.

Pimstrel, who looked in trouble when joined by eventual third Caesar’s Comet over a furlong out, dug in to reclaim the lead from that rival but the slow-starting Philly’s Hope was the strongest finisher and put her head in front where it mattered.

A long-standing maiden for Ado McGuiness, the Camacho filly was making the breakthrough for new connections on her twenty-sixth career start.

It was 10lb claimer Whearty’s sixth winner of the campaign and he’s attached to Gavin Cromwell’s yard.

Winning trainer Tom McCourt said: “The same owner has the The Bog Bank (finished fifth) and there was a few local lads that asked me if I had anything to form a syndicate so Hugh (O’Brien) leased her.

“I have her about eight weeks. We said we’d try the cheekpieces on her for something different. She was slow away again but she flew home.

“She had a good run here last year for Ado (McGuinness) when she was a close third so she handles it here. She had been showing ability but was just hard to win with.”

Quotes from Alan Magee