Straight Home can strike for Townend in Ballinrobe
Jody Townend winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) at Cheltenham last month. Picture: Healy Racing
Cheltenham heroine Jody Townend might strike on Straight Home in the BoyleSports Mares Handicap Hurdle when racing heads west for the first time in 2025, to Ballinrobe.
Formerly trained by Townend’s father Tim, Straight Home, an eight-year-old mare, has won once and been placed twice from four starts since joining champion trainer Willie Mullins.
Odds-on for her stable debut in Tramore last August, with Paul Townend on board, she finished third to Stormalong before being pipped by One Night Standard in Listowel.
The daughter of Yeats came good at Clonmel in October, outpointing Romella, off a mark of 102.
After a break, she returned to action in the prestigious Paddy & Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown in February and acquitted herself well in finishing seventh, beaten nine lengths, behind Vischio.
Today’s step-up to an extended two miles and five furlongs should suit Straight Home well. And the ‘point’ and bumper winner, is expected to register her second success over flights.
Later, Enda Bolger’s Stealthy Tom, presumably on course for a return to Punchestown’s banks in two weeks, might take advantage of his attractive hurdle mark in the Lodge At Ashford Castle Handicap Hurdle.
It’s almost two years since this gelding’s last win, at his beloved Killarney. But, last time, he filled third spot behind Vanillier in a ‘cross-country’ event at Punchestown in February.
And, in his last excursion over hurdles, he chased home Jouster at Fairyhouse back in December.
Rated 100 over hurdles, a massive 41lb. lower than his current chase mark, Stealthy Tom has obvious claims here in his ‘prep’ for Punchestown.
While Ballinrobe is starting its 2025 season, Dundalk stages its last meeting of a hectic winter schedule, the final polytrack meeting until July 12.
The meeting will feature Aidan O’Brien’s first two-year-old runners of the campaign, with Ryan Moore set to partner 625,000 Guineas purchase Mission Central, a No Nay Never colt, in the opener.
The Ado McGuinness-trained She’s Smart, 7lb. lower than when scoring at Down Royal last May, has obvious prospects in the Saturday 12th July Ladies Day Handicap over the minimum trip.
This Ado McGuinness-trained filly is making a quick reappearance, having made her seasonal debut at Bellewstown on Saturday, when she recovered from a tardy start and caught the eye in finishing fourth behind Aurora Nova.
That run should have left her spot-on for this 0-60 contest and, with Adam Caffrey in the saddle, she might defy top-weight.
4.40 Mile End
5.12 Holy See
5.47 Impero
6.17 Straight Home
6.47 Klassman
7.17 Stealthy Tom (Nap)
7.47 Le Diablo
4.40 Pure Logic
5.12 Yoradreamer
5.47 Zoffanien
6.17 Rachel’s Secret
6.47 Kalnoo
7.17 Ahead Of The Posse
7.47 Blazing Duke
5.30 Mission Central
6.00 She’s Smart
6.30 Temperance
7.00 Bungle Inthedesert
7.30 Monkstown (n.b.)
8.00 Quickkshot
8.30 Doctor Grace
5.30 Award Ceremony
6.00 Beano Power
6.30 Jorge Alvarez
7.00 Harriet Eagle
7.30 Professor Longhair
8.00 Berto Ramirez
8.30 Waystar
