KILLARNEY, 14 May 2007, Good

6:10 Laurels Bar Hurdle (4yo+) 2m1f

[off 6:12] £9,237.16, £2,710.14, £1,291.22, £439.86

TRAINER Age Wgt JOCKEY SP OR TS RPR

1 Farmer Brown P Hughes 6 11-12 D N Russell 8/13F 128 130 130

2 1¼ Mill House Girl S Donohoe 6 10-12 p R C Colgan(3) 7/1 117 118

3 hd Eagle´s Pass T J O´Mara 5 11-5 P W Flood 9/2 121 122

4 3½ Capo Di Capi Mrs John Harrington 5 11-5 R Walsh 8/1 104 117 118

5 7 Go Silver Bullet (FR) C F Swan 6 11-0 D J Casey 20/1 105 106

6 1 Whatsabillion John Joseph Murphy 5 10-8 E F Power(5) 20/1 103 104

7 7 Go West T J Taaffe 6 10-13 7 B J Geraghty 20/1 95 97

8 9 Don´t Be Bleu Donal Hassett 5 10-1 S W Flanagan(7) 66/1 80 83

9 28 Ablastfromthepast C F Swan 7 10-9 D G Hogan(5) 50/1 81 54 61

10 14 Rumreelic Miss Elizabeth Doyle 5 10-8 J R Barry 50/1 31 41

11 7 Carnmore Bridge F M Hanley 12 11-0 T G M Ryan 100/1 29 40

12 30 Rossan Lad Oliver Finnegan 5 10-13 D T Evans 66/1 — 9

PU Crottys Point Henry De Bromhead 5 10-10 A D Leigh(3) 50/1 82 — —

13 ran TIME 3m 56.10s (fast by 7.90s) TOTAL SP 127%

NON RUNNER: Dangan

1st OWNER: Plantation Stud BRED: T F Cusack TRAINER: P Hughes

2nd OWNER: Charles Harte

3rd OWNER: O'Dowd Kelleher Syndicate

TOTE WIN £1.70 PL £1.10, £3.10, £2.60; Ex £6.50; CSF £5.74

My Notes Analysis Comments In Running

FARMER BROWN looked a cut above the rest here and he duly delivered. As expected, he started odds-on based on his revised handicap mark of 128 after going up 4lb for winning easily at Sligo.

He moved menacingly into second before four out and challenged at the next before taking over at the second last and keeping on under pressure. His trainer indicated afterwards that he'd love to win a maiden on the Flat with his four-time winner who clearly relishes a decent surface.

Mill House Girl hadprospects if recapturing her best form. She set off in front and passing the halfway point had several lengths to spare over her chasing rivals.

The distress signals went up approaching the third last, but to her credit she galloped all the way to theline; fitted with cheekpieces for the first time.

Eagle's Pass, successful on the Flat in handicap company Leopardstown at the end of last season had landed a maiden hurdle at Thurles last December. He had run well in decent company when fourth toSizing Europe at Punchestown and this was another decent effort. He looks capable of winning again soon.

Capo Di Capi had appreciated good ground when landing a 21-runner Cork maiden hurdle, but this was a tougher task and he had no more to offer in the closing stages after tracking the long-time leader for a while.

Go Silver Bullet, a Roscommon bumper winner on good ground in 2005, was further back returning from a break, but this was more encouraging from him on his favoured ground.

3:50 Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Hurdle (4yo+) 2m

[off 3:52] £7,470.27, £1,740.54, £767.57, £443.24

1 Farmer Brown P Hughes 6 11-12 D N Russell 1/4F 128 104 124+

2 8 Lakil House Adrian McGuinness 7 11-12 M Darcy 10/1 107 94 96

3 1½ The Bomber Brennan Richard Francis O´Gorman 7 11-5 D F O´Regan 25/1 85 88

4 2½ Crerum R K Watson 4 10-3 N J O´Shea(3) 16/1 69 72

5 14 Fondness (GB) J P Broderick 4 10-6 G T Hutchinson 33/1 52 58

6 4½ Grimaldi Seamus Lynch 8 11-5 P W Flood 20/1 59 67

7 ½ Swiss Cottage (GB) Niall Madden 5 11-4 N P Madden 7/1 57 65

8 2 Ellie Roohan Michael McElhone 7 11-0 B M Cash 25/1 51 59

9 2 Hogan´s Heroes (GB) Eoin Doyle 4 10-4 M P Butler(7) 14/1 45 54

10 ½ Kathuna A J Martin 7 11-5 R P McNally 20/1 52 62

11 dist Theicecreamfellow (IRE) L Young 6 11-0 D G Hogan(5) 33/1 4 26

12 21 The Thracian Mare V T O´Brien 7 10-7 D M Somers(7) 33/1 — —

PU Inishclare J J Lambe 6 11-5 J L Cullen 25/1 — —

13 ran TIME 3m 59.00s (slow by 4.00s) TOTAL SP 144%

NON RUNNERS: Canadian Sunset ,Out Of Touch ,Pagan Magic (USA) ,Political Purchase ,Ragg City ,Vickate

1st OWNER: Plantation Stud BRED: T F Cusack TRAINER: P Hughes

2nd OWNER: Patrick Droney

3rd OWNER: Mrs L M O'Sullivan

TOTE WIN £1.10 PL £1.10, £2.60, £10.00; Ex £3.50; CSF £5.25

Farmer Brown

chased leaders, closer order and headway approaching 3 out, 2nd approaching next, soon led, clear from before last, easily

Lakil House

chased leaders, 3rd before 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on into 2nd without troubling winner close home

The Bomber Brennan

led and clear, reduced lead from 3 out, headed before next, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace and dropped to 3rd close home

Crerum

chased leaders, moderate 4th before 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace

Fondness

in rear of mid-division, poor 10th from 4th, no danger and kept on without threatening from 3 out

Grimaldi

mid-division, moderate 8th approaching 3 out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from before next

Swiss Cottage

slight mistake 1st, soon moderate 2nd, 3rd approaching 3 out, 4th approaching next, soon lost place and no impression under pressure

Ellie Roohan

mid-division, poor 9th from 4th, soon no danger, kept on same pace

Hogan´s Heroes

soon chased leaders, pushed along in moderate 5th approaching 3 out, soon no impression

Kathuna

always towards rear, never a factor

Theicecreamfellow

mid-division, dropped to rear from 4th, soon no danger, tailed off

The Thracian Mare

always behind, took keen hold early, tailed off

Inishclare

PUNCHESTOWN, 25 April 2007

Good

3:30 Oberstown Developments Handicap Hurdle (4yo+,0-140) 2m

[off 3:30] £32,989.86, £9,679.05, £4,611.49, £1,570.95

1 Bobs Pride D K Weld 5 11-1 R Walsh 100/30F 124 — 139+

2 3 Bien Bronze (GB) A L T Moore 6 10-7 D N Russell 10/1 116 — 128

3 1 Farmer Brown P Hughes 6 11-1 Richard Johnson 7/1 124 — 135

4 3 Top The Charts (GB) A J Martin 5 9-7 R C Colgan(3) 7/1 105 — 113

5 1½ Wishwillow Lord Leonard Whitmore 8 11-3 M Darcy 40/1 126 — 133

6 1¾ Jaamid (GB) Noel Meade 5 10-5 P Carberry 10/1 114 — 119

7 ¾ Strand Line P J Rothwell 7 9-3 S W Jackson(7) 33/1 105 — 109

8 3½ Artistic Lad (GB) Mrs John Harrington 7 9-11 A D Leigh(3) 33/1 109 — 110

9 1¾ Jawad Ms Joanna Morgan 6 10-5 D J Casey 14/1 114 — 113

10 shd Monty Mint Thomas Foley 9 10-1 D F Flannery(5) 16/1 115 — 114

11 4 First Row D T Hughes 5 10-7 R Loughran 25/1 116 — 111

12 1¾ Rathkenny William Coleman O´Brien 9 9-6 P A Gallagher(7) 40/1 108 — 101

13 ½ Silent Jo (JPN) M J P O´Brien 5 9-8 A E Lynch(3) 10/1 106 — 98

14 nk Moore´s Law (USA) M J Grassick 9 11-4 D F O´Regan 20/1 127 — 119

15 3 The Spoonplayer Henry De Bromhead 8 10-10 B J Geraghty 20/1 119 — 108

16 3 Dbest Ms Joanna Morgan 7 10-10 b P W Flood 16/1 119 — 105

17 1¾ Gunnison Eoin Griffin 6 9-4 t S W Flanagan(7) 20/1 106 — 90

18 ½ Querido (USA) E J O´Grady 5 10-1 T G M Ryan 50/1 110 — 94

19 10 Hurricane Alley Andrew Lee 6 10-3 N P Madden 50/1 112 — 86

20 8 Fleet Street (GB) N J Henderson 8 11-10 Mick Fitzgerald 20/1 133 — 99

21 25 Jack Ingham E J O´Grady 7 10-6 R M Power 20/1 115 — 56

PU Stutter (GB) John G Carr 9 10-0 P A Carberry 20/1 109 — —

22 ran TIME 3m 43.20s (fast by 2.80s) TOTAL SP 140%

1st OWNER: R Blacoe BRED: Dermot Cantillon & Forenaughts TRAINER: D K Weld

2nd OWNER: S Mulryan

3rd OWNER: Plantation Stud

TOTE WIN £3.90 PL £1.90, £2.50, £1.50, £2.80; Ex £55.40; CSF £33.82; TRICAST £244.07

All one-way traffic in the concluding stages of this valuable handicap with the well-backed favourite BOBS PRIDE sluicing up under a confident ride. Racing close to the pace, the former Group 3 Flat winner registered his second win over hurdles when forging to the front travelling ominously turning for home from long-time leaders Wishwillow Lord.

He is progressing the right way and belied a 10lb hike for scoring at Fairyhouse with his trainer Dermot Weld saying: "He's rapidly improving and he's going to go right to the top over hurdles." He indicated also the Cambridgeshire at Newnarket could figure among future plans this year.

Bien Bronze was unproven on good ground coming into this but he shaped well after coming from off a steady pace up front for the minor honours. He was still travelling approaching the last but the winner was far superior and was never going to be collared.

Farmer Brown, who was staying on when falling two out at Fairyhouse previously in a race won by subsequent Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Emmpat, was another doing his best work in the closing stages. On this evidence he has a decent pot within his grasp.

Top The Charts never threatened up front before staying on when switched running down to the final flight. He was 2lb out of the handicap but he showed his liking again for this quicker surface as he did when scoring on good-to-firm at Listowel last September.

Wishwillow Lord, successful in a valuable handicap at Fairyhouse last season, madethe running but once headed approaching the straight soon had no more to offer. The handicapper probably has his measure but this was a respectable effort.

The consistent Jaamid plugged on after struggling leaving the back straight ahead of Strand Line, who was 3lb wrong at the weights. He was pushed along in third approaching the straight and struggled to maintain his momentum but he looks capable of resuming winning ways when his sights are lowered.

Monty Mint raced in the leading group for a time but couldn't raise his game when the tempo increased along with course and distance winner Silent Jo who may have needed this returning from a near five-month break. He won twice over hurdles on quick ground last season, including a maiden here but he appeared to blow up when the race developed.

3:25 T.C.Matthews Carpets Handicap Hurdle (4yo+,0-140) 8 hdles 2m

[off 3:27] £13,855.74, £4,065.20, £1,936.82, £659.80

1 Farmer Brown P Hughes 6 11-1 P A Carberry 8/1 114 125 132+

2 hd Well Mounted A L T Moore 6 11-1 D N Russell 5/2F 114 125 132+

3 7 Old Flame Paul Nolan 8 11-1 R M Moran(3) 12/1 117 119 128

4 3½ Cadogan (FR) J T R Dreaper 7 11-2 A E Lynch(3) 8/1 118 115 126

5 3 Jaamid Noel Meade 5 11-1 P Carberry 9/2 114 107 119

6 2½ Woodhouse Mrs John Harrington 8 10-12 A D Leigh(3) 25/1 114 104 116

7 ¾ Artistic Lad (GB) Mrs John Harrington 7 10-12 p B J Geraghty 16/1 111 100 112

8 1¼ Josephine Cullen W P Mullins 5 11-3 D J Casey 10/1 116 103 116

9 1¾ Cashel Bay (USA) Luke Comer 9 9-13 M J Bolger(7) 25/1 105 90 103

10 nk Quel Doun (FR) W P Mullins 7 11-1 D J Condon 12/1 114 98 112

11 22 Dreux (FR) Thomas Cooper 5 11-6 N P Madden 16/1 119 73 95

12 1 Orge D´Ete (FR) W P Mullins 5 11-2 R J Kiely(5) 16/1 120 73 95

13 4½ First Row D T Hughes 5 11-4 p R Loughran 14/1 117 64 87

14 15 Middlemarch (GER) P A Fahy 6 11-0 A P Lane(3) 25/1 116 42 71

15 shd All Diamonds Michael Cunningham 6 10-3 p J P Elliott 33/1 102 27 57

PU Hurricane Alley Andrew Lee 6 11-0 Daryl Jacob 20/1 113 — —

16 ran TIME 4m 12.10s (slow by 23.10s) TOTAL SP 137%

NON RUNNER: Tabaco (GER)

1st OWNER: Plantation Stud BRED: T F Cusack TRAINER: P Hughes

2nd OWNER: Ross and Moffett Syndicate

3rd OWNER: Banagher Glen Syndicate

TOTE WIN £6.20 PL £1.50, £1.40, £3.10, £2.80; Ex £29.00; CSF £30.50; TRICAST £266.98

A decent handicap hurdle and a fine effort from FARMER BROWN who was getting off the mark over hurdles at the fourth attempt and in his first handicap. The winner didn’t look that well treated off a mark of 114 but he belied his inexperience with a taking display that signalled him out as the type that could win a major handicap over hurdles at some stage.

Farmer Brown had only two horses behind him nearing the second last but he quickly sliced through the field and eased to the front on the bridle off the final turn. He was travelling strongly when pressed by Well Mounted nearing the last and then lost the lead after that flight but rallied well to get back up close. His rider never had to touch him with the whip and there should certainly be more to come from Farmer Brown, whose previous success came in a Limerick bumper two seasons ago and who had run a respectable second to Holly Tree in a novice event at Limerick last month.

Well Mounted was also given a patient ride and followed the winner through to go second early in the straight. He didn’t jump the last as well as the winner but still got past on the run in before relinquishing the advantage close home. He has shown a decent level of form in good handicaps this season and deservesto win a good prize.

The front pair pulled nicely clear of Old Flame, who was always close to the pace. A smart chaser, Old Flame showed up well in a Gowran handicap won by Cogans Lake last month and probably ran to a similar level. He could be able to make his mark in a handicap hurdle.

Cadogan ran a sound race and fared better than he did when contesting his first handicap at Fairyhouse in December. He was in the front rank off the final turn but could do no more when the front two swept past. There are more races to be won with him over hurdles.

Jaamid ran respectably without matching the form he showed when fifth in last month’s Pierse Hurdle. He kept on under pressure from the second last but could never manage to land a tellingblow. His jockey reported that he met interference on the final bend due to general bunching.

Woodhouse ran an honest race. He's higher than when picking up a handicap at Punchestown in November and the handicapper could possibly have his measure.

Artistic Lad may want better ground to be seen at his best, while Josephine Cullen will improve for her first run since last April.

LIMERICK, 11 January 2007, Heavy

1:25 www.hacketts.ie Novice Hurdle (6yo+) 2m

[off 1:25] £11,436.37, £3,355.37, £1,598.63, £544.59

1 Holly Tree E Sheehy 7 10-13 S W Flanagan(7) 5/2 120 124 132

2 6 Farmer Brown P Hughes 6 11-0 P A Carberry 2/1 110 120

3 11 Freds Benefit W P Mullins 6 11-6 R Walsh 7/4F 102 115

4 9 Buck Breeze Thomas Foley 7 10-13 t C D Maxwell(7) 10/1 108 90 106

5 23 Tawnies Thomas Gerard O´Leary 7 11-0 B J Geraghty 20/1 53 77

6 14 Zhdanovichy P J Rothwell 6 10-7 S W Jackson(7) 66/1 33 63

7 1¼ Copper Rally Moses McCabe 7 11-0 B M Cash 100/1 31 62

8 17 Snap (GB) Liam McAteer 6 10-11 A E Lynch(3) 66/1 7 45

9 15 Sharp Son C J Dore 6 11-0 K Whelan 100/1 — 30

10 18 Fight On P J Prendergast 6 11-0 R M Power 66/1 — 12

10 ran TIME 4m 9.00s (slow by 26.00s) TOTAL SP 118%

1st OWNER: Mrs Margaret Marshall BRED: Mrs Margaret Marshall TRAINER: E Sheehy

2nd OWNER: Plantation Stud

3rd OWNER: Dermot Justin Power

TOTE WIN £3.80 PL £1.10, £2.20, £1.10; Ex £5.60; CSF £8.20

The meeting survived an inspection at 8.30a.m, following 14mm of rain overnight, and testing conditions greeted the runners for this opening contest where the consistent HOLLY TREE recorded his second victory over hurdles.

The winner moved into aclose second in the back straight and started to edge ahead from the turn in. Once asked to make sure of victory in between the final two flights, he stayed on well for a clear cut success. Prior to this he had posted a creditable effort to run third in a Fairyhouse handicap won by Hearthstead Dream and his penultimate outing at Thurles saw him run a commendable second to the subsequent Christmas Hurdle hero, Jazz Messenger. Trainer Eamon Sheehy could now give him a break before sending him for another novice hurdle.

Farmer Brown looked to have a good chance on his somewhat unlucky second to Candy Girl at Leopardstown last month. His chances weren't helped by a mistake at the first and at the fifth last but he moved into contention on the approach to the straight. He then went second at the penultimate flight but was soon struggling to make an impression on the winner. He is probably capable of better and shouldn't have too much trouble winning a maiden.

Freds Benefit was bidding to followup a maiden hurdle success over this course and distance last month. He was second early in the straight but could do no more after the second last and will need to improve on this to make his mark in a novice.

Buck Breeze, who ran a little wide on the bend past the stands, made much of the running but he had to give best to the winner nearing the entrance to the straight and was soon fighting a losing battle. He may appreciate better ground.