Well-backed Purse another winner for Murphy

The well-backed Shepherd's Purse made all to win the Coral.ie Handicap under Gary Carroll for Joe Murphy (his fourth winner in the last eight days).

A winner on his debut at the Curragh in 2014, the son of Pastoral Pursuits then had his next six starts in stakes company.

Disappointing on his first two efforts this season in handicap company, he was available at 20/1 last night, opened at 7/1 on-course, before going off a 13/2 chance.

Sent straight to the front by Carroll, he was ridden and extended his advantage over a furlong out.

He tired in the closing stages, but he just done enough to hold off the late surge of Reckless Endeavour by a neck.

The runner-up was returned a 3/1 joint-favourite under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons, while Zalty the other joint-favourite, was a further two lengths back in third.

Joe Murphy said afterwards: "I've always liked him and he's a class horse. He was a big two-year-old and he kept growing. I hope he's stopped now.

"He'd have no problem going back to six furlongs, and there are plenty of good handicaps for him.

"Things are going well at the moment but it's not always that way, and today's news wraps tomorrow's fish!"

Additional reporting by Alan Magee