'I love seeing him' - Cormac Farrell's emotional praise for Hurricane Darwin

Saturday: Fairyhouse

Trainer Cormac Farrell was almost lost for words as veteran Hurricane Darwin completed a career hat-trick in the feature 3m handicap chase.

The 12-year-old, who joined Farrell's yard from Peter Maher earlier this year, finished a length clear of Marshalled and backed up his victories at Punchestown and Listowel at odds of 22-1 and 11-1 respectively.

Although Hurricane Darwin was justifying favouritism under PJ O’Hanlon, his Wexford-based trained expressed the love he has for the gelding.

He said: "I don’t know what to say, I love seeing him every morning. He’s a horse that I just want to cuddle all the time. You’d think he was three-years-old when you see him at home.

"He’s really bombproof. You see it training in the morning, he just loves life. I can’t really explain it."

As a result of Hurricane Darwin’s victory, Farrell has started dreaming about bigger targets as the season progresses.

"He’s going to go to the November meeting at Cheltenham and then we’ll get him back for Punchestown in the spring. He may be 12 but he doesn’t know it," added Farrell.

Blackmore on target

Rachael Blackmore had two rides on the card and she steered Amirite to victory in the 2m5f beginners’ chase.

The Henry De Bromhead-trained six-year-old was making his seasonal debut and was able to follow up from his 30-length victory at Kilbeggan in April as he finished a nose clear of stablemate Secret She Keeps.

Another hat-trick

Broomfield Hall also secured a hat-trick of wins as the seven-year-old landed the 2m beginners’ chase for trainer Philip Dempsey.

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