20:30 Bellewstown

Wednesday 4 July 2018

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Hilltown Fillies Maiden

Off time: 20:32 | Winning time: 2m 39.61s

(6)

Lady Nathaniel⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 68

10/3

Seemed to improve a little for the step up to 10f at Ballinrobe last time, as her pedigree suggested she might, and there's a chance this extra 2f may help again, but she's not really progressing and she may need more again here.

Form: 262-022

(7)

Rooney O'mara³⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: C P Hoban| T: W M Roper| OR: 51

66/1

Not seen much on a racecourse in recent times, form not up to much anyway and she takes a huge step up in trip. Too much to prove coming back off another absence.

Form: 937/00-

(1)

Vienna Circle^t⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: S Foley| T: V Halley| OR: 57

50/1

Going nowhere quickly and well beaten at this trip in lowly handicaps last couple of starts, the latest coming just a week ago. No realistic chance here.

Form: 24-9700

(8)

Aprils Joy^t1¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A J Martin

80/1

Beat just the one home on debut at Cork last month (10f) and given she was sent off 100-1, little was expected. May be the same story here.

Form: 8

(5)

Attack At Dawn¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: K Prendergast| OR: 71

8/1

Decent effort in the context of this race when fifth at the Curragh last month (10f), tiring late and finishing fifth. No guarantee to get this trip on pedigree (or running style) but has some of the better form in the race and not discounted.

Form: 3955

(9)

Chateau La Fleur¹⁰³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L F Roche| T: D K Weld| BF

9/4

Not a cheap purchase at 900,000gns back in 2016 and has a good pedigree, but very disappointing when beaten at 1-4 on debut at Dundalk in March. Not seen since, which is a concern, but better clearly was expected. Market the best guide.

Form: 3

(4)

Erin¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 70

3/1

Definite signs of promise on first two starts but has gone backwards since then and disappointing at Gowran Park latest start. Step back up to 12f may help but already looks to have something to prove.

Form: 07-66

(2)

Maricruz^h⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Sean Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 62

25/1

Not beaten that far last couple of starts and this step up in trip may suit, but her form is only in moderate claimers and she does need to take another step forward here.

Form: 64-34

(3)

Seize Your Star¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien

5/1

Half-sister to three winners in France and she has shown signs of ability on both runs, staying on at one pace to finish fifth at Limerick on her latest start. Seems to be going the right way and place chances here at worst.

Form: 65

Forecasts

Chateau La Fleur (9/4), Erin (3/1), Lady Nathaniel (10/3), Seize Your Star (5/1), Attack At Dawn (8/1), Maricruz (25/1), Vienna Circle (50/1), Rooney O'mara (66/1), Aprils Joy (80/1)

Chateau La Fleur possibly holds the key to this - if she's as good as her price tag makes her out to be, then she's surely much better than her poor debut effort and she could be simply too good for these. But having not been seen since that debut in March, there may be issues, and a chance is taken on SEIZE YOUR STAR, who has shown enough in a couple of starts to think she's up to winning one. Another step forward and she should be thereabouts. Lady Nathaniel has the form in the book but is open to attack from anything progressive. Erin and Attack At Dawn are worth a second look.