Brazos brings home the bacon for Foley and Murphy as Mullins septet are foiled

After bringing Brazos home in front in one of Ireland's hottest handicaps of the season at Navan, Shane Foley pointed out a piece of form that should have made the winner a much shorter price than 16-1.

"When he won his maiden at Killarney he beat Exchange Rate. When I looked at the betting earlier this morning I saw Exchange Rate was 5-1 and my horse was 33-1. I couldn't believe it," the winning rider remarked.

Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?

Once again Exchange Rate, one of seven runners for Willie Mullins and sent off the 5-1 joint-favourite, could not live with Brazos, who kept David's Charm at bay inside the final furlong to give Upton-based trainer John Murphy his biggest Flat success.

Watch the Irish Cesarewitch here, with full result and analysis

Murphy is best known for springing a shock in the 2006 Champion Chase with Newmill, and Foley revealed the trainer was brimming with confident ahead of Brazos' big day.

"John knows when he has one," Foley stressed. "His horses have been a bit in-and-out, but he said he didn't care and told me this lad was absolutely flying. He was right."

He sure was right, as Brazos travelled sweetly in the first half-dozen of the pack for much of the race before being produced to lead shortly after passing the two-furlong pole.

Foley added: "Brazos relished the trip and the ground. He worked like a good horse the other morning and I'm glad he showed it out there.

"He's not ungenuine. The blinkers are only on him because he idles. I had a lovely trip around. Sometimes there can he hassle in these big-field handicaps, but everything was smooth here.

Brazos and Shane Foley return to the winner's enclosure after taking the Irish CesarewitchCredit: Patrick McCann

Foley is one of the most sought-after freelancers in the business, so did he have the choice of a couple in the race?

"I picked this lad a long time ago. I knew if they got a bit of rain he would be as good a ride as any. John has always been very good to me and I wanted to repay him."

Brazos was Foley's 55th winner of the season, already better than the last two campaigns, and his decision to turn freelance at the start of the season after being stable jockey to Michael Halford for so long has paid dividends.

"It has been a fantastic season for me – it's gone great. I just need to keep it going now and finish on a high," Foley added.

NessunDorma fared best of the Mullins septet in fourth' with Exchange Rate in fifth.

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