The three-day Bellewstown Festival got under way with what looked an ordinary fillies maiden for two-year-olds, but it produced a winner of immense potential in the shape of Tosen Lydia (70+) who holds a Group 1 entry in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
Jockey Shane Cross had to be at his most patient after his mount had taken time to gather stride, leaving the partnership with more in front than behind at halfway. Once asked to close though, the daughter of The Ghurka responded with a fine turn of foot to reach a challenging position. However, with the front-running Cyclamen (66) not stopping in front there was still work to do for Joseph O’Brien’s debutant.
A closing three-furlong sectional of 36.30 seconds could not be matched by the older horses over the same course and distance and demonstrated the effect to which she had finished to win by a going away length and three quarters with a sizeable gap back to the bunch finish for the third.
The final day of three saw a change of code as the jumpers took over with the Bar One Racing Bellewstown Hurdle, the feature race on the card, going the way of the J.P. McManus-owned Winner Takes Itall (132+) who has put himself in line for a €25,000 bonus if he goes on to land the Galway Hurdle.
Fierce gallop
The race was run at a fierce gallop as Bonarc and Mr Moonshine set out a pace that left the field stretched out all over Co Meath with well over a circuit to run, and it was notable the winner and the second Wouldn’t You Agree (124) travelled comfortably not far from the pace.
The final-circuit time analysis to the remainder of the card does not do the race superiority justice. The overall race time comparison to the races over the same course and distance show the difference to be at least 7.1 seconds which equates to around 35 lengths, while a split-screen comparison illustrates the pace to be of similar dominance when compared against the races over two and a half miles.
So easy was the winner travelling, jockey Simon Torrens took his mount back several times so as not to get to the front too early, eventually moving to lead approaching the last hurdle.
A closer inspection of Winner Takes Itall’s form reveals that good ground is essential to his level of performance as, whenever the word soft appears in the description, the son of Nathaniel has been soundly beaten. On good ground over hurdles he has yet to finish out of the first three and, given that he already performed well around Galway, he is likely to return to Ballybrit with leading claims.
Eoin Griffin must surely have been delighted with Wouldn’t You Agree as his gelding saw out the race strongly to hold off Run For Oscar (124) - who met with slight interference on the last bend - for second on just the gelding’s third start under rules. Both can be supported on their next assignment.
Emerging, Wednesday 30th June, Bath – (82+) ran out a comfortable winner for tender handling on second start and a reproduction on the clock can see him competitive at more high-profile tracks.
Jawwaal, Friday 2nd July, Doncaster – (99+) took his record to 3-3 over course and distance and in running the final three-furlongs in a swift 32.78 posted a sprinting performance of top quality. He boasts what it takes to take step up to pattern company.
Hard To Fault, Saturday 3rd July, Carlisle – (87+) quickened smartly to land this maiden and can progress further now he goes handicapping.
Farasi Lane, Saturday 3rd July, Sandown – (95) posted figures that compared favourably with much higher-rated horses, looks well ahead of current handicap mark.
Winner Takes Itall, Saturday 3rd July, Bellewstown – (132+) posted a time that compared very well with other races on the card