The summer festival circuit commences on Thursday as the first stage of Bellewstown’s three-day meeting kicks off at the Co Meath venue at 5.45pm.
David Myerscough’s filly Signore Momento appeals as the best bet of the entire evening in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Maiden.
On her second and most recent start, Signore Momento was only beaten a head into second place by a 72-rated opponent in Captain Henry in a nine-furlong median auction maiden at Ballinrobe on June 15th. If reproducing that effort, then Signore Momento is likely to get off the mark here by accounting for Benji’s Babes.
Elyaadi stands out in the Bambury Bookmakers (Q.R.) Handicap. The John Queally-trained mare Elyaadi had little difficulty in sluicing home in a two-mile flat race at Wexford in late May and connections were then toying with the idea of despatching the five-year-old to Royal Ascot.
As subsequent events transpired, that scenario didn’t materialise and Elyaadi should have little difficulty in coping with a five lb higher mark here than she raced off at Wexford (82 as opposed to 77). The likelihood is that she should have most to fear here from Le Leopard.
Grangeclare Gold should continue on her merry way in the Balbriggan Retail Park Hurdle. A six-year-old mare trained by Dessie Hughes, Grangeclare Gold has won her two most recent starts and last time she dug deep for Roger Loughran to beat Bold Bibi by a head in a two-mile mares’ novice hurdle at Down Royal on June 19th. Victory number three should come the way of Grangeclare Gold here and it seems that Gerbera is the one for the forecast.
Joe Murphy’s Douze Points should attain due reward for his consistency by disposing of Island Breeze in The Irish Mirror Maiden over five furlongs whilst Our Monty and Moscow Mo Chuisle are a likely pair in the Bellewstown Golfcourse Handicap Hurdle.
The Charles O’Brien-trained Sharp Steel should have most to fear from Sammuramat in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden whilst Huckle Buck Shoe is put forward to oblige from Doheny Bar in the closing McLoughlins Oil INH Flat Race.
