Lisrose sprang a surprise when battling on gamely to land the mares novice chase at Thurles this afternoon.

Caoimhe's Delight was a warm order for the three-mile contest and disputed throughout with Carrigeen Lonicera

Things looked to be going to plan for the 9/10 favourite as she was asked to quicken in the lead after the second last.

She was headed going to the final fence, however, by Lisrose who had stayed on stoutly to take closer order in the straight having been off the bridle in sixth before the turn.

Jody McGarvey got a good leap at the last from his mount as Caoimhe's Delight blundered and the 16/1 shot stuck on bravely to repel the renewed challenge from the market leader by a length-and-a-quarter. I

t was a first racecourse winner for Dungarvan handler Alice Curran, who was only granted a licence to train before Christmas. She currently has three horses in training.

“I got her at the end of the summer and she won a point-to-point for me,” said Curran.

“This has been the plan for a while and she'll run next on St Patrick's Day at Limerick in the mares chase there.”

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)