Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- irishracing.com
- Punchestown
- News
- Another for Connell & Flanagan as Lodge defies top-weight
Donal Murphy
Another for Connell & Flanagan as Lodge defies top-weight
Farmers Lodge (left) and Sean Flanagan jump the last alongside Stormbreaker (left) and Marelly (centre)
© Photo Healy Racing
Fresh from their success at Leopardstown on Friday, Barry Connell and Sean Flanagan again struck with Farmers Lodge in the Tote's Cheers To 2024 Handicap Hurdle.
Upped 12lb for an easy win at Fairyhouse last month, the lightly raced eight-year-old was sent off the second choice of punters at 10/3.
Settled behind the leaders, the Presenting chestnut was switched off the rail on the approach to the last and soon edged to the front, keeping on well from there to score by a comfortable length and a half.
The Willie Mullins-trained Stormbreaker (8/1) tried hard but couldn't match the winner on the run-in and had to settle for second under Paul Townend.
Returned at 50/1, Marelly finished another six and a half lengths away in third, while The Nagger Reidy (11/4f) unseated JJ Slevin after a mistake three out.
"He's a quality horse who had a good few problems that kept him off the track for a long time, but we got them sorted out," Connell remarked.
"His chase form was good, he beat MacDermott in a beginners chase in Fairyhouse, and he'd a good mark over hurdles. He'll mix and match between the two.
"There is a probably a good handicap chase in him at some stage, but we'll probably keep him going over hurdles for the moment.
"For a big horse he's a very slick jumper of a hurdle.
"The horses are all running great, they are healthy and well."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee