Espanito Bello and Michael O'Sullivan (left) with Gaoth Chuil at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Course specialist Espanito Bello (20/1) today notched a second big-race win at Naas, landing the Listed Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle for owner/trainer Barry Connell and jockey Michael O'Sullivan.
Held up in mid-field, O'Sullivan made headway rounding the home turn and while leader Lord Erskine was clear jumping the second-last, Espanito Bello finished well to lead on the run-in, beating Gaoth Chuil with Lord Erskin finishing third.
All five of the nine-year-old's wins have come at the Kildare venue — including March's Leinster National, and Connell today joked “they might make a statue of him here now!”
He added “they went a mad pace in front which suited him and he jumped super.
“We’ve had all the older horses in a good bit longer this summer. He normally takes a run but the older horses are straighter this year. I might look at the Proudstown - it’s a 100 grand handicap hurdle and he should be still competitive.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
