17:35 Bellewstown

Saturday 2 July 2022

All16:3517:0517:3518:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Bar One Racing 'Bellewstown' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:36 | Winning time: 3m 56.9s

Anna Bunina^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 134| BF| D

9/2

Won Scotttish Champion Hurdle (Handicap) in April and listed race at Killarney in May. 4/6, respectable second of 7 in mares event at Down Royal (16.4f, good to soft) 29 days ago, clear of rest.

Form: 431-512

The Tide Turns^t⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 135

5/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Creditable 2¾ lengths third of 8 to Flame Bearer in Hardy Eustace Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, good to soft, 7/1) 90 days ago. Stable in good form. Respected.

Form: 14403-

Dark Spark^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Richard Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: M Winters| OR: 129

15/2

Fairly useful winner at 13f on flat. Career best when winning 8-runner handicap hurdle (5/4) at Kilbeggan (16f, good) 19 days ago, driven clear. 7 lb rise demands a bit more.

Form: 2134U-1

The Little Yank¹⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr H C Swan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 129| D

12/1

Three wins from 22 runs last season. 25/1, 32 lengths third of 5 to French Dynamite in Gr 3 chase at Thurles (18f, good to soft) on debut over fences 105 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 333153-

Rich Belief^b¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Donagh Meyler| T: K Thornton| OR: 128

8/1

Creditable second of 9 in handicap (11/2) at Limerick (17f, good) 15 days ago, running on late. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Progressing recently. Another bold show likely.

Form: 2261-21

Molly Wedger²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: Dermot P O'Brien| OR: 127

11/1

Career best when winning 12-runner handicap hurdle (15/2) at Listowel (20f, soft) 26 days ago, driven out.

Form: 8600-31

Vado Forte¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

20/1

One win from 2 runs last season. 7½ lengths fifth of 8 to Dark Spark in handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan (16f, good, 22/1) 19 days ago. Stable in good form.

Form: 4P4/15-5

All Those Years¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: C Byrnes| OR: 124

16/1

Lightly-raced 8-y-o. Won Cork novice in January but pulled up on Kilbeggan handicap debut 5 months later. Betting perhaps the best guide as to whether he's likely to bounce straight back to form.

Form: 1234/1-P

Play The Game^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Simon Torrens| T: J C McConnell| OR: 123| D

33/1

Fair winner at 7f on flat. Below form fifth of 9 in handicap (22/1) at Fairyhouse (13.7f, good to soft) 22 days ago, merely passing beaten rivals. Switches from Flat to hurdles.

Form: 6/03545-

Hidden Land³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: A Kinirons| OR: 122| BF| D

14/1

Latest win in hurdle at Downpatrick in May. 3/1, fourth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe (18.5f, good to soft) 33 days ago.

Form: 000-134

Mandarin Monarch^p,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: A McNamara| OR: 118| D

22/1

One win from 3 runs last season. 7½ lengths sixth of 8 to Dark Spark in handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan (16f, good, 15/2) 19 days ago. Tongue strap back on. Others more persuasive.

Form: 280/1P-6

The Greek^p1,t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Corey McGivern⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 118

22/1

Tenth of 12 in handicap hurdle (15/2) at Kilbeggan (16f, good to soft) 50 days ago. Stable having good spell. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Bounce back needed.

Form: F41P8-0

Still Standing^t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: C J Orr| T: W Durkan| OR: 117

18/1

One win from 1 run last season. 33/1, creditable fourth of 11 in minor event hurdle at Wexford (17f, good to soft) 49 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time over jumps (on when winning on the Flat).

Form: 268/10-4

Elegant Lass^t⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 116| CD

14/1

C&D winner. 50/1, 27 lengths ninth of 11 to Anna Bunina in listed mares event at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 48 days ago. More chance back in a handicap.

Form: 3342U-9

Too Bright^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: B J Cooper| T: N Meade| OR: 118

9/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Creditable 2¾ lengths third of 8 to Dark Spark in handicap hurdle (13/2) at Kilbeggan (16f, good) 19 days ago. On the upgrade recently.

Form: 140-43

Family Business^h³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Kieran Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Coffey| OR: 115

14/1

Very good second of 10 in handicap hurdle (14/1) at Punchestown (16.2f, good) 35 days ago, going with enthusiasm. RESERVE.

Form: 39/515-2

Non-Runners

Gaelic Arc⁵¹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: J P Ryan J: M M McDonagh

The Dasher Conway⁵¹

Weight: 10-6| Age: 7

T: Mrs G Callaghan J: Reserve 2

Hisnameis Mrdevitt³⁵

Weight: 10-6| Age: 5

T: Peter Fahey J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Anna Bunina (9/2), The Tide Turns (5/1), Dark Spark (15/2), Hisnameis Mrdevitt (15/2), Rich Belief (8/1), Gaelic Arc (8/1), Too Bright (9/1), Molly Wedger (11/1), The Little Yank (12/1), Hidden Land (14/1), Elegant Lass (14/1), Family Business (14/1), All Those Years (16/1), The Dasher Conway (16/1), Still Standing (18/1), Vado Forte (20/1), The Greek (22/1), Mandarin Monarch (22/1), Play The Game (33/1)

RICH BELIEF might be able to cap a good spell since the spring by bagging this quite valuable prize. Gaelic Arc was impressive when winning maiden/novice events in May and should have more to offer now handicapping so he's feared most. Too Bright and Gordon Elliott's The Tide Turns also make the shortlist.