13 proves anything but unlucky for Alright Darling The Daniel Murphy trained Alright Darling got off the mark at the 13th time of asking when proving a rather fortunate winner of the Premier County Mares Handicap Hurdle at Thurles. Prominent from off under Philip Donovan, the 8/1 led narrowly into the straight. Pushed along and headed two out, Alright Darling looked booked for third spot as Sallap and Great Bird went on. However, with both the latter named falling independently at the last, Alright Darling was left in front to claim an unlikely three length win over Thats All. Daniel Murphy said: "She is an honest mare and carried her lightest weight ever today. Philly (Donovan) thought he was coming back at the leaders at the last, and in fairness, she did gallop away from the rest of the field. "She is by Walk In The Park and her dam is a sister to (Cheltenham Gold Cup winner) Lord Windermere so it is a good pedigree. She was bought to go breeding, that'll be her job and we'll see where we go from here." Joint-owner Diarmaid Forde added "I own her with his cousin Donal O'Brien and unfortunately we buried our aunt earlier today. I had intended in going to another funeral but couldn't make that one, and this is something to cheer us up. "Our plan was always to breed from this mare." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
