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JP McManus' Brazil heading for Sporting Limerick Hurdle

3 minute read

JP McManus' Brazil may have a bit to find to become a Champion Hurdle contender with the Sporting Limerick Hurdle his likely next destination.

Horse Owner JP McManus Picture: (Michael Steele/Getty Images

The four-year-old's latest win at Naas on Saturday saw him bounce back from an eight-month blank. 

Padraig Roche's Cheltenham Festival winner had not won since defeating Gaelic Warrior at Prestbury Park in March. He had finished third in Grade One company at Aintree and was beaten by Champ Kiely in his return to the track last month at Tipperary.

That run sharpened up Brazil and he was in the perfect spot to take full advantage of a mistake at the second-last by Fil Dor to claim the Grade Three Fishery Lane Hurdle by three and a half lengths.

Now the December 29 Christmas Racing Festival against his four-year-old contemporaries looks like being the route for the two miler.

"He'll probably go for the four-year-old race at Limerick at Christmas," said McManus' racing manager Frank Berry.

"We'll see if anything comes up in the meantime, but that would probably be his next target I would say."

JP McManus has won the race with Espoir D'Allen in 2018.

On whether Brazil could follow in the footsteps of Espoir D'Allen and develop into a Champion Hurdle contender, Berry added: "It would be great if he could, but it looks very competitive at that level, and he has a bit to do to get to that level.

"But you never know, we'll take it one race at a time and hope all goes well in the meantime."

Brazil was trained on the Flat by Aidan O'Brien before starring in the green and gold hoops over hurdles and Roche could have found himself another high-class juvenile prospect from the Ballydoyle academy in the form of Cougar.

The exciting son of Deep Impact is two from two over timber following his facile victory at Down Royal recently and is now set to test his credentials at graded level at Fairyhouse on December 4.

"He'll probably go to Fairyhouse for the Grade Three hurdle, (Bar One Racing Price Boost Juvenile Hurdle), that will likely be his next stop," said Berry.

"He's come out of the race at Down Royal well and is in good form. It's hard to know what he's beaten, but he couldn't have done it any better so far."