Stepping up to extended mile can see Bluebell off the mark
On her latest appearance, she was hampered inside the furlong pole - attempting to close down the leaders at the time - when fourth over an inadequate six furlongs behind stable companion, Bye Bye Birdie, in a Group 3 at the Curragh.
Prior to that, Bluebell seemed to need every inch of seven furlongs when scoring narrowly at Limerick. Stepping up to a mile plus now can only be a help.
Bleeding Hearts, who will carry colours far more familiar to National Hunt fans, rates the danger.
The Peintre Celebre colt is owned by the Gigginstown House Stud and ran with a lot of promise on his debut at Fairyhouse twelve days ago. He wasn’t the fastest away and was towards the rear for much of the seven furlongs journey.
But Michael Halford’s charge began to get the hang of things in the straight and was doing all his best work in the closing stages to finish fifth of 12 behind Dermot Weld’s Simple Love.
O’Brien’s League Of Nations is fancied to shrug off top weight in the Killarney Avenue/Munster Joinery Handicap.
He was ridden with a certain amount of restraint at Leopardstown last time and could only plug on one-paced in the straight to finish fourth behind Teoirim.
It will be no great surprise should Joseph O’Brien make far more use of him on this occasion.
Charlie Swan’s Stay In My Heart gets a hopeful nod in the Bourn Vincent Memorial Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.
She had one of her main rivals now, Bridgequarter Girl, just under three lengths behind in fourth when beaten three lengths into second by Benemeade at Wexford. Benemeade has won again in the meantime.
