Hope She Flies takes big step forward under Fitzgerald Hope She Flies (14/1), owned and trained by Brian Cawley, stepped up markedly on previous efforts when making virtually all in the Thomas A. Murray Bar Roscommon Handicap Hurdle at the western venue. Available at 50/1 in places this morning, Shane Fitzgerald soon had the Free Eagle mare in front and, despite not being foot-perfect at a couple of flights, she found plenty in the home straight to beat market leader No Big Deal by three and three-quarter lengths. Fitzgerald said: “It wasn’t the plan to be honest. I knew there wasn’t much pace. “She was having a good look in front the whole way and it was probably to her benefit in the end as she wasn’t doing a stroke. “She can usually do a little bit too much. They didn’t go that quick and I was able to get everything my own way in front and it worked out well in the end.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
