Switch From Diesel has enough in the tank
Switch From Diesel with groom Chloe Byrne winning the Ladbrokes Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. Pic: Healy Racing
The classy and versatile Switch From Diesel should prove tough to beat, on her handicap debut, in tonight’s Ballinrobe finale, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.
Formerly with Seamus Fahey, the seven-year-old Yeats mare, now in the care of Ross O’Sullivan, made her name in the bumper sphere – she ran in no less than 12 bumpers, winning three times and being placed on seven occasions.
Those placed efforts included runner-up efforts behind Bambino Fever in Grade 1 events at both Cheltenham and Punchestown.
Highly-tried in her initial outings over hurdles, she has come good in that discipline in recent weeks, scoring convincingly twice, when favourite, at Punchestown.
Switch From Diesel has raced only once under flat rules, winning a mile and a half Curragh maiden last November, when she got up on the line to pip Factual Fact, who ran creditably off 85 in a recent Curragh handicap and is now rated 89.
Today, O’Sullivan’s charge makes her handicap debut off a very workable mark of 80 and, with Colin Keane on board, should be a tough nut to crack.
Another versatile performer, the Andy Slattery-trained Royal Hollow, a course winner, is the obvious danger but must concede 6lb to the selection, while Willie McCreery’s Earthsong was raised 7lb for her recent breakthrough success in Gowran Park.
Colin Keane has big chances throughout the card and might also hit the target with Noel Meade’s Sonic Invader in the GAIN The Advantage Series Handicap.
This Churchill gelding has shown improved form, when stepped up in trip, in his last two starts, finishing third to Earthson at Gowran Park before filling the same spot behind classy veteran Ballyadam over two miles in Listowel.
Dropping in trip and now 1lb lower, Sonic Invader has a rock-solid chance in an open contest.
Another likely winner for Keane is the once-raced, Ger Lyons-trained Camino Lad in the median auction maiden.
This gelding made a pleasing start to his career when finishing third, beaten eight and a half lengths, behind classy odds-on stable companion Res Ipsa over a mile in Limerick recently.
With that run under his belt and stepping up in trip, Camino Lad might improve past his more exposed rivals.
5.25.Femme Beauty
5.55 Camino Lad
6.25 Mano Chicago
6.55 Marmeladova
7.27 A Pretty Penny
8.00 Sonic Invader (n.b.)
8.30 Switch From Diesel (Nap)
5.25 Delusional
5.55 Nermal
6.25 Harana
6.55 Mocking
7.27 Rodeo Blues
8.00 Bruant
8.30 Royal Hollow
