Frankie Dettori will be back at Bellewstown today, for the inaugural running of the Barney Curley Charity Cup, in aid of DAFA.
The Italian conquered the County Meath track when winning on Trueba for Johnny Murtagh. But, today, he’ll return to the Hill of Crockafotha in the role of team-captain for the two-race challenge against a team captained by Willie Mullins.
Pick of the two Cup races might be the Denis Hogan-trained top-weight Ransom, the mount of Tom Queally, in the first leg, over an extended seven furlongs.
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This fellow has filled the runner-up berth on his last two starts, behind Comfort Line at Navan and when narrowly beaten by Mary Salome in Listowel last week – for which he went up 3lb.
Elsewhere on the card, Joseph O’Brien’s River Rain, a beaten favourite on her last three starts, should enjoy a change of luck in the Johnny Kierans Memorial Maiden.
Last time, she chased home Dermot Weld’s Sidiriya over a mile and a half in Galway, having earlier failed to cope with Alaroos (subsequently second off 78 in a Dundalk handicap) in Tramore.
The Carriganog filly stays well and gets the vote ahead of Noel Meade’s Bridgehead, pipped by subsequent winner Aghaboy over hurdles in Ballinrobe last time, and the 83-rated Ballydoyle filly Honeycomb, who has had plenty of chances.
Team Dettori: Shane Kelly, Tom Queally, Jamie Spencer, Chris Hayes, Billy Lee, Seamus Heffernan and Siobhan Rutledge.
Team Mullins: Colin Keane, Rachael Blackmore, Declan McDonogh, Dylan Browne McMonagle, Wayne Lordan, Shane Foley and Robert Whearty.
Peter O’Hehir's tips for Bellewstown:
2.00.Palais D’elysee
2.35.The Bog Bank
3.10.Ransom
3.45.Polar Bear
4.20.Inventor
4.55.River Rain (Nap)
5.25.Storm Steps
Next Best
2.00.James Henry
2.35.Ellabella
3.10.Geological
3.45.Escaping Thejungle
4.20.Blind Beggar
4.55.Bridgehead
5.25.Arctic Blaze
Double : Polar Bear and River Rain.
O’Hehir’s Longshot : Franno (5.25.)
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