Brazil finds the back of the net for big Galway handicap win

Galway Hurdle disappointment quickly consigned to the past.

Brazil bounced back from disappointment over hurdles 24 hours earlier to bag a big prize on the Flat at Galway on Friday.

Winner of the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in March last year, he was pulled up in the Galway Hurdle on Thursday.

But the Padraig Roche-trained, JP McManus-owned five-year-old showed no ill effects back on the level in EURO 110,000 Guinness Premier Handicap over a mile and a half, powering home to edge 5-2 favourite Teed Up and Chally Chute by a head and the same in the hands of Niall McCullagh.

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“Yesterday was the plan, but unfortunately that didn’t go to plan and in fairness to Mark (Walsh) he looked after him,” said Roche following the victory of the 14-1 chance. “We had him in today and it was great, Niall gave him a great ride, so I’m delighted.

“When I was only a young lad, Niall was in India when dad (Christy Roche) was over there so I’ve known Niall a long time. It’s great and he gave him a great ride.”

On being pulled up in the Galway Hurdle he added: “Look it’s Galway, the start is everything. Fair play to Mark he looked after him and he knew he was in today. He’s a hardy horse and there’s no bother with him. He came back, ate up last night and was bouncing this morning so we said we’d give him a chance.

Brazil and Niall McCullagh
Brazil and Niall McCullagh (PA)

“His pedigree is great, he came from Ballydoyle and I’m lucky to have a horse like him.

“He has a load of options, it was a bit morbid last night but today is great. It’s a great game.”

Toss Again (11-2) produced a performance full of class to win the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap.

With just one previous outing over fences to his name when winning a beginners’ chase at Limerick in May, the Henry de Bromhead-trained six-year-old belied his inexperience with a fine round of jumping.

Pressed hard on the long run for home, Darragh O’Keeffe’s mount was not for passing, with a length and three-quarters the margin over Quantum Realm.

Toss Again winning the Galway Blazers
Toss Again winning the Galway Blazers (Brian Lawless/PA)

De Bromhead – who has a fine recent record in the valuable handicap – said: “I’m delighted for Tom O’Connor, his owner. He and his brother and his mum are here, so that’s great. He was brilliant, and Darragh was brilliant on him.

“It’s only his first run in a handicap and second run over fences, obviously he lacked experience but his jumping is savage and he was brilliant the whole way.

“I thought it (handicap rating) was fair, off his hurdle mark. We hoped he had improved for fences, he won his beginners’ chase nicely in Limerick. The lack of experience around here (was a worry), but you wouldn’t have thought it with the way he jumped.

“He really stayed at it and I thought Darragh gave him a super ride.

“We won’t rush, today was the plan and he’s still a novice. He has options.

“He probably prefers nicer ground, I’d say he’s better on better ground.”

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