Brown Boots sends punters home happy at Clonmel Brown Boots completed a good afternoon for punters at Clonmel when justifying strong support in the concluding Rosegreen Handicap Hurdle. The Liam Cusack-trained gelding was available at 2/1 earlier in the day, and was backed from 11/8 into evens favouritism on track for this three-mile event. Brian Hayes oozed confidence as the seven-year-old, who was also successful on his chasing debut at Navan last month, led approaching the last. The son of Affinisea was soon in command and Hayes was able to ease right down in the closing stages to beat Mullanour, who made a mistake at the final flight, by ten lengths. Take Chance was a further 12 lengths away in third. Cusack said, “The betting was a lot more confident than I was, so there was pressure! "He is a nice horse who is coming the right way and won nicely in Navan, with the runner-up being just beaten at Fairyhouse the other day. He hadn't that many fences jumped going to Navan, but he jumped very well and it takes a bit of winning there. "That is testing ground today, but he seemed to handle it away. He was well-in and I'm delighted it has come off. We'll work away with him now in both codes and he is a nice, solid type of horse. "His owner John Murray, from Shinrone, is a good supporter of mine and was involved with Snugsborough Benny with me in the past." Quotes by Tom Weekes
