Farmer set for Galway harvest

My immediate memory of the Galway Plate is a fond one having backed Far From Trouble to win last year's renewal at a choice antepost price. And I intend to repeat the dose in this year's spectacular at the ever popular Galway Festival. Pat Hughes' Farmer Brown will land the Guinness Galway Hurdle at the big festival on August 2. The generally available 10/1 is just too good to miss. The six-year-old made a rapid rise through the ranks in his first season as a hurdler last term, a campaign in which he started off in a maiden hurdle but, just five months later, was tackling major handicaps against more experienced, battle-hardened performers. He blotted his copybook just once, in the Imperial Cup at Sandown, but he was quite simply below par on that occasion. Subsequently, the son of Bob Back was staying on well when falling two out in a competitive heat at Fairyhouse before finishing a highly respectable third in an equally well-contested heat at the Punchestown Festival in April. Hughes, who sent out Quinze to land this big pot in 1999, has fine-tuned Farmer Brown's preparation for this contest since by finding a couple of minor events over timber for his charge, both of which he won with minimum fuss, before pitching him in a decent maiden on the level at Leopardstown. His effort in that Flat contest was indicative of the improvement the selection has made. Indeed, he failed by just a length and a half to concede the best part of a stone to a very smart Dermot Weld-trained colt, Westlake, who boasts solid form and is a definite Group-class performer.Now that he has more experience under his belt, I'm expecting big things of Farmer Brown - I have no doubt that he'll go on to prove much better than his current mark of 130. The prospect of decent ground at the Galway Festival is another factor which will be very much on his favour and I reckon he will have too much toe for his rivals. It goes without saying that when Dermot Weld lays a horse out for a race you have to take notice. Zeroberto appears to be a case in point. A decent handicapper on the level, the Definite Article gelding proved his worth by scoring twice in this sphere last season before disappointing back on the Flat and then in three starts over fences. It will be no surprise to see him fare much better back over hurdles at a track that he clearly likes, but his preparation has been far from encouraging and, therefore, at the same price as Farmer Brown who, conversely, will go into this race with a full head of steam, I have no hesitation in opting for the latter. Hegrid and Streets Of Gold are both on the upgrade, although the latter is far from certain to make the cut at this stage. Tony Martin's charge just got the better of a tussle with Rathkenny at Limerick on July 8 with Serve Time a length adrift in third. However, the last-named should exact revenge on 7lb better terms. Others with each-way claims include Imperial Rose, Leg Spinner and Top The Charts, while, at rewarding odds, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jubilant Note take a hand in the finish. English raider Kings Quay must also be considered following his victory in a strongly-contest event at Market Rasen recently. Verdict: 1pt Farmer Brown @ 10/1 (bet365)