Brian takes advantage of favourite's slip up The great uncertainty that is horse racing was never more exemplified than when Admiral Brian recorded a 25/1 victory in the featured Jim Strang & Sons Kilsheelan Hurdle at Clonmel. The three-mile event looked destined to go to Coquin Mans as the 30/100 favourite was cruising along in front approaching the penultimate flight. However the hot-pot slipped up with the race apparently at his mercy and was fired into the ground along with rider Paul Townend. Thankfully both horse and rider walked away afterwards and Admiral Brian, representing the father and son team of Eamonn and Eoin O’Connell, was left in front. The son of Brian Boru, who did well to dodge the unlucky favourite, kept on well under pressure to beat Taglietelle by two lengths with earlier front-runner Val De Ferbet weakening to finish another 23 lengths back in third. No chance for @PTownend aboard Coquin Mans at @ClonmelR earlier - the jockey speaks to @irishkor on an unfortunate incident: pic.twitter.com/VQnCUomwRx— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 7, 2017 Eamonn O'Connell said, "We didn't expect it today but he won and we'll take it. That's his first time running over three miles. We've been running him over two miles and he handled the ground well there when a lot of them didn't. "He is consistent and we might go over fences now or else go to Leopardstown over Christmas for the Pertemps Qualifier." Paul Townend later discussed the fall saying, "I went back to have a look afterwards but couldn't see any massive hole. It's just one of those things. "You are on the ground before you know anything and thankfully I was thrown clear." However Coquin Mans could be sidelined for a while with Willie Mullins later saying, "He was very unlucky and sustained a nice little injury on his knee so we won't see him at Christmas anyway. Paul said there was nothing wrong and he just tripped up." (TW & AM)
