Beckett hoping for Brownstown Ecstasy English trainer Ralph Beckett is under no illusions about the task facing Agony And Ecstasy when she travels to Fairyhouse to contest the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes on Wednesday. The four-year-old daughter of Captain Rio looked an improved filly when winning the Snowdrop Stakes on the Kempton all-weather at the start of April and has not been sighted in competitive action since. Beckett feels a placed finish would represent a huge effort in the Group Three encounter. "She seems to have improved from three to four and we have just been waiting for the ground for her since Kempton - she just can't handle it when it's quick," said the Kimpton handler. "It should be nice, good ground in Ireland and this looked a good opportunity for her to run again, but it looks a very hot race. It could easily be a Group Two. "There was nothing for her at Ascot unless I ran her in the Windsor Forest and I thought that would be a bridge too far. "Sometimes this race is average and other years it's very hot - I think it would be fair to say this year it is the latter. "She's going to have to pull out all the stops and if she was placed I'd be delighted." Joining Agony And Ecstasy on the trip from Britain is the Ed Dunlop-trained Sharnberry, last seen placing fifth in the French 1000 Guineas. Dermot Weld's Emulous is the highest-rated filly in the field, with Claiomh Solais, History Note and Rose Bonheur also featuring in the 10-runner field.
