Lemonstown Ladlooks all set to get off the mark
Following a three lengths second behind subsequent winner, Pepperwood, at Navan the selection was well fancied to get off the mark at Bellewstown.
It wasn’t to be, however, and he went down by a head to Sandtrap. Lemonstown Lad was was slightly unlucky, in that he was slowly into his stride and had to be ridden along early to hold his pitch.
That may well have meant the difference between victory and defeat and the son of Catrail looks worth another chance.
Aidan O’Brien introduces the Sadler’s Wells newcomer, Magritte, in the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden and his travels in the market will be all important.
He will have to be particularly smart, however, to cope with David Wachman’s once-raced Castledale.
The Peintre Celebre colt made an excellent start on this track earlier in the month when splitting Jim Bolger’s Danticat and the Ballydoyle hot-pot, Fantasticat.
Pat Hughes’ Theseus, who will strip a lot fitter than a number of his rivals, gets the vote to win the featured Byrne Handicap Chase.
He was returning from a break when scoring in fine style at Killarney and has a leading chance of shrugging off a 7lbs penalty.
Hanorla, no match for Banasan at Bellewstown, should give us a big run in the O’Dwyer Tarmac Hurdle.
Take Flite has plenty on at the weights in the Betdaq Hurdle, but still gets the vote to come out on top.
He has been running out of his skin on the level of late, finishing runner-up behind Zimbabwe in a competitive Curragh handicap on his latest appearance.
That form could hardly have worked out better with Englishtown and Blue Corrig, third and fourth respectively, going on to score in the meantime.
Dermot Weld’s Markova gets the nap to win the Ladies Day Fillies Maiden at Down Royal this afternoon.
She showed a lot of promise when fourth behind Fluirseach at Leopardstown back in October and this is a weak contest.
Dollivius, beaten a length and three quarters into third behind Mister Marmaduke (gave 4lbs) at the Curragh a week ago, appears to have the best of the weights in the five furlongs Irish Stallion Farms Race.
