Symboli Bay set for quick follow-up
At Bellewstown, the five-year-old was returning from a short break and was running for the first time for Edward O’Grady.
He seemed very much at home on the fast surface, easing ahead over five out, under Barry Geraghty, and then staying on strongly in the closing stages to beat Ridgewood Secret by seven lengths.
It has to be accepted that was a moderate contest, but the credit side is the selection now has a bit in hand at these weights.
He runs here under a mandatory 4lbs penalty, but goes up 8lbs in future handicaps.
Jim Bolger’s Certainly Brave, despite finishing 19th of 20 last time, is the choice to land the seven furlongs Castlerea Maiden.
She made no show in the competitive handicap won by her classy stable companion, Shizao, at the Curragh but is better judged on a previous effort on this track.
The daughter of Indian Ridge was beaten a short head into second spot by Conspiring and a repeat of that sort of performance will surely see her take a major hand at the business end of this poor event.
Victor Bowens could do with a change of luck and it may come via Peacock Lady in the Mares Bumper. She was third in a winners’ race to What A Hussy and Hawaiian Son at Kilbeggan and this does represent a minor drop in class.
Girl Wonder, sixth of 29 behind Christy Roche’s heavily-backed Desert Fantasy at the Curragh, gets the nod in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.
