The Busy Fool provides Rothwell and Power Roche with big win

The Busy Fool provided 7lb claimer Tiernan Power Roche with his biggest success to date when partnering the Philip Rothwell-trained gelding to take the €45,000 Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle at Naas this afternoon.

The son of Doyen, successful on his only bumper outing at Thurles and absent since winning on his handicap debut at Tipperary back in April, made virtually all in this 2m4f event.

The 11/2 shot was strongly pressed after the penultimate flight but found plenty under pressure on the run-in to beat Park Of Kings by three-quarters of a length with 100/30 favourite Sir Allen keeping on well a further length back in third.

Rothwell said, ““He's a lovely big horse. They are a great crowd of guys to train for and they've been hugely lucky, we've had a lot of winners.

“They've been very patient with this horse, he was a big weak horse. You can see he's a big backward fella.

“I didn't want to go over fences until next season so we said we'd keep him for a few hurdles this year.

“He won in Tipperary last season over two and I felt the step up would suit. Obviously Tiernan's claim got rid of his winner's penalty.

“The form of the race in Tipperary worked out well, the horse that was second to him was second in Punchestown at the Festival.

“I think Tiernan will be very important to me this year for some of those handicaps. It was great to have him on board and great that he rode a good winner.

“He got a very easy lead, he came up the home straight the first time with his ears pricked going a nice steady gallop.

“With a 7lb claimer off 10st 4lb they gave him, a galloping horse, a very easy lead.

“I was going to look at the two-mile handicap in Fairyhouse but we'd want a lot of rain for that. We'll creep away. He can come back a bit in trip with an ease in the ground.”

Quotes by Gary Carson