Winner all right for best dressed lady

THERE was no need for a steward’s inquiry in Ireland’s most award-winning winter hunt race yesterday.

A young Galway woman Michelle Murphy-Lawless won the hearts of the judges at Leopardstown’s first ladies’ day.

The mother-of-one scooped the accolade of best-dressed lady.

After her initial elation, she was quick to remark on how she would celebrate her prize.

“We’re definitely going to hit the town with style,” she quipped to her husband Ralph.

Cheerful and proud, Ralph agreed with her. “I’m delighted,” he admitted.

The Lexus Ladies’ Day winner was all smiles in her stylish but simple dress.

“I’m here to enjoy the day. It was just a cream and black plain classic,” she said, describing her dress.

Bought in Zara, it was topped with an elegant black hat and accessories from designer Anthony Ryan in Galway.

And at a total cost of €300 for her ensemble, the recruitment specialist dressed to impress — winning a cool 15,000 in prize money.

“I’m so surprised,” she exclaimed. And with two nights at the presidential suite at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Powerscourt, Wicklow, at a cost of €5,000 a night, who would blame her?

“There’s space for 10 people in the hot tub on top,” explained one of the day’s judges, Jill O’Hare.

Included in the luxurious stay is a €2,000 shopping spree in Dundrum Shopping Centre.

Ireland’s rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll whisked past the ladies competing for the top award. Other faces who braved the chilly afternoon included TV3’s Karen Coster and Elaine Crowley.

Expecting the worst, the 20,000 punters who turned out at the track for the third day’s festivities at Leopardstown were dressed for the worst but made their own fortunes.

The Lexus Steeplechase — with a prize fund of €200,000 — saw Denman coolly take the win with a surprising Mossbank coming in second. Beef or Salmon failed to impress.

But lady luck had already taken its course for winner Michelle-Murphy Lawless.

Deciding how to enjoy her two nights in Powerscourt and the hot tub, was the next hurdle.

“We could muscle up a couple of people,” she joked.