Farmer Brown to reap rich harvest in Galway Hurdle
Trainer, Pat Hughes, knows what’s required to win this major prize, producing Quinze to run away with the race under Richard Dunwoody in 1999.
Hughes’ handling of the six-year-old leading up to the contest has been been highly intelligent.
He won a conditions race at Sligo in May and followed in a similar event at Killarney later that month. Farmer Brown won both in smooth style and only went up a paltry 2lbs.
Clearly not displeased with that, the Carlow handler put his charge away, obviously with an assault on this very much in mind.
Then he reappeared on the flat at Leopardstown early in July and the performance he turned in must have had his trainer literally purring.
Farmer Brown contested a mile and a half maiden on the flat, finishing a length and a half runner-up behind the smart Westlake.
He was hampered on two occasions by the winner and there was certainly a strong case for him getting the verdict in the stewards’ room.
There are plenty of others for the short-list, but to my mind what beats Farmer Brown will win!
Ruby Walsh has solid prospects of a double with Emotional Article and Reisk Superman. Emotional Article gets the nod in the Guinness Novice Chase.
He ran a cracker when second to Ballycullen Boy at Limerick, going under by three parts of a length.
Emotional Article ran into trouble over the first that day, but recovered well and is fancied to come home strongly over a trip which may be a shade on the short side.
Reisk Superman certainly isn’t to be trusted implicitly, but the Guinness Beginners Chase does look a weak contest.
Beaten by Pacolet at the Punchestown Festival, he had a recent spin over flights at Killarney which should have left him spot-on.
