Browne pushes Swamp Fox out to win at the Galway Festival

Swamp Fox overcame a difficult wide draw to win the Connacht Hotel Handicap, the feature race on day one of the Galway Festival under county Kildare jockey Barry Browne.

Trained by Joe Murphy and ridden by delighted Kilcock man Browne, the four-year-old gelding had previously struck at Ballinrobe just a week ago yet was at the foot of the weights for this ultra-competitive contest.

Galway 7.20 result: 1 Swamp Fox (16/1)
2 Ted Veale (14/1)
3 Benkei (13/2)
4 Renneti (9/1)

Swamp Fox had to break from stall 18, but Browne did a superb job to muscle his way into contention and was good value for his two-and-a-quarter-length defeat of big eyecatcher Ted Veale, who could also run in the Galway Hurdle later in the week.

Jocular made plenty of the running in the extended two-mile contest for qualified riders before he was overtaken by Asbury Boss with about a mile to go.

Katie Walsh’s partner still held a narrow advantage heading into the final three furlongs, but Benkei then took control.

His challenge from the front was short-lived, though, as Swamp Fox (16-1) gained the lead at the top of the straight and never looked back.

Benkei ended up finishing an honourable third, while Renneti was fourth.

Browne said after the race; “I thought during the race i’m too wide here but coming down into the dip he was travelling so well. I probably got to the front way too soon but I knew he would stay galloping the whole way up the hill so I sent him on. Sure look he was carrying 2 stone less than some horses so I might as well have made use of it. It felt a long way home from that final turn but I was delighted to pass the line in front anyway. This is definitely one of my biggest winners anyway.”

Browne been intervied on At The Races after his victory.