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Trainer Robert Murphy said his brave mare Darrens Hope had to front run after she pulled off a huge shock in the Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.

The eight-year-old was up against the fancied 13/8 favourite Idas Boy, who was eventually pulled up after a bad mistake.

Gordon Elliott's Minella Crooner (7/4) was another in the field, as well as 3/1 chance Amirite, but they were all swept away by Murphy's charge, who defeated the former by a head.

It was a big surprise for connections of the 20/1 chance, who had looked well below par last time out at Limerick.

She was always towards the rear in October and was eighth of 16, beaten 28 lengths by Big Dog over three miles.

But the shorter grade two assignment over an extended two and a quarter miles seemed to suit and she answered every call in front for Danny Mullins.

She was hard pushed by Minella Crooner, but refused to buckle and won the day, in a race that was reduced in terms of a jumping test with the fences down the back taken out due to low sun.

 "That's mighty, it's the best win she's ever had. We knew that she was in great form," said Murphy, who has Darrens Hope entered in the Troytown Handicap Steeplechase at Navan on Sunday.

"She has to be out in front, if she's in behind she doesn't want to know anything about it. 

"I've been milking cows all my life and I've always had a love for horses. Since I was a child I loved horses and I'm lucky to have a good mare like her."