Course specialist bags the Brown Lad

Course specialist Espanito Bello (20/1) today notched a second big-race win at Naas, landing the Listed Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle for owner/trainer Barry Connell and jockey Michael O'Sullivan.

Held up in mid-field, O'Sullivan made headway rounding the home turn and while leader Lord Erskine was clear jumping the second-last, Espanito Bello finished well to lead on the run-in, beating Gaoth Chuil with Lord Erskin finishing third.

All five of the nine-year-old's wins have come at the Kildare venue — including March's Leinster National, and Connell today joked “they might make a statue of him here now!”

He added “they went a mad pace in front which suited him and he jumped super.

“We’ve had all the older horses in a good bit longer this summer. He normally takes a run but the older horses are straighter this year. I might look at the Proudstown - it’s a 100 grand handicap hurdle and he should be still competitive.”

Quotes from Alan Magee