Pittoni looks set to pounce
The son of Peintre Celebre made a reasonable start when sixth to Rockhampton on this track in March and was then a strong favourite next time at Navan.
Backed from 3-1 to 7-4, he proved no match for The Bull Hayes, going under by six lengths. There was no disgrace in that.
The ground was very soft then and The Bull Hayes is a fair performer in such conditions. In any case that horse went on to give the form a decent boost when subsequently third behind Grand Ducal in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh.
Dermot Weld’s Anaverna should take all the beating in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
She is bred to be more than useful, by Galileo out of that good racemare, Agnetha. Anaverna made her debut at Gowran Park last month and had future winner written all over her.
She was beaten a neck and a head into third behind Aidan O’Brien’s well-backed newcomer, Lord High Admiral, and Bobbyscot with Knight Eagle, successful in the meantime at Listowel, two and a half lengths away in fourth.
O’Brien’s once-raced Boxing Day gets the nod in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden for colts and geldings.
He has two places and almost four lengths to find on Montecchio, on their running behind Alfred Nobel at Leopardstown, but we all know how much Ballydoyle juveniles can find, following an inital outing!
Seachantach, who did us a favour when cruising to victory at Navan last Friday night, can defy a mandatory 5lbs penalty in the Sandyford Handicap.
