Bellewstown races end early due to safety concerns for second day in a row

Bellewstown 26-8-26

For the second successive evening, action in Bellewstown came to a premature end due to safety concerns.

On Tuesday the track’s flat card was abandoned after just two races following a number of incidents in which horses slipped up.

Last night concerns were expressed after the sixth race - a division of the John Purfield Memorial Handicap Hurdle - in which Garrick Painter (Simon Torrens) slipped up.

Once again the Raceday Stewards heard from all stakeholders involved and decided to abandon the final two races, in the interest of safety.

Earlier, Elusive Ogie swooped late under Dan King to land the featured, €20,000 Bective Stud Mullacurry Cup Handicap Hurdle, a second winner of the week for his trainer Eoin McCarthy.

The 8/1 shot, who won a maiden hurdle at Limerick last year, was making his handicap breakthrough at the nineth attempt, challenging late under Galway hero King to foil Avalo by a length, with long-time leader Serienmond a close third.

“He’s had a frustrating summer,” declared the winning trainer.

“He should probably have won twice in Killarney – he came down once and made a mistake at the same hurdle the next day – and the ground in Galway was too soft.

“Shadow Paddy was in the frame in this race last year, so I had my eye on it. When they were leaving the back straight, I thought we’d do well to finish fourth. But Dan’s on fire. And the horse stayed at it well.

“I’m delighted for Denis (Enright), a very good, paitient owner. And this fellow will definitely part of the team for Listowel – he’ll have options, over two and a half or three miles - we’ll have to see what the handicapper does to him.”

Trained by Dick Donohoe, Daboya made it two wins from four starts over hurdles (plus four wins on the level) when taking the PANDA Mares Hurdle under a power-packed ride from Danny Mullins.

The grey five-year-old mastered front-running longshot Speisialta on the run-in to score by a length and three-quarters, with a. twelve lengths gap back to disappointing odds-on favourite Fastnet Crystal.

“Missing out the hurdles down the back was a help – it turned out to be more like a flat race and she doesn’t have much experience,” said Donohoe.

“She’s been in great form all summer and we’ll look for another mares race – and she’ll probably go back on the flat too.”

Danny Mullins completed a double when delivering the Ken Budds-trained 20/1 shot Crypto Crash with a well-judged challenge to open his account in a division of the John Purfield Memorial Handicap Hurdle, beating Surviving Murmansk.

Declan Queally has done a remarkable job placing versatile gelding Rocky’s Howya this year. And the ten-year-old registered his sixth success of 2026, and his fifth in claiming company, when making virtually all to take the opener under Eoin Staples, beating Rich Belief by eight lengths.

“Galway didn’t work out for him, but he’s a good, genuine horse,” said Queally.

“These claimers give old horses like him a chance and he’s dynamite at this level. He jumps and hangs left, so he prefers going left-handed. We’ll try him again in open company – he might head for Listowel.” 

Local trainer John McConnell and Alex Harvey struck when Thesilverbridle made all to take the Bet With The Tote On Racing & Sports Maiden Hurdle, prompting her trainer to comment: “She’s a big, galloping mare, is very tough and stays well. We’ll take baby steps with her – we could be going to the north of England or Scotland with her.”