Ballybawn Belter completes the set Killarney’s final race of its 2026 season was the Spin Southwest Maiden, for older horses over one mile, three furlongs, and it resulted in victory for Ballybawn Belter. Runner-up to Banbridge in another Flat maiden at Gowran Park last month, the Valirann mare is a five-time winner under National Hunt rules and had last visited the winners’ enclosure at Limerick’s Christmas meeting in December, after landing the Listed Tim Duggan Memorial Chase. Seamie Heffernan, carrying the colours of J.P. McManus, took his time on the 4/1 chance who was fifth of the seven runners at halfway. Pushed along early in the straight, she gradually made inroads on those ahead of her and led inside the final furlong to beat Joe Cool by a snug three lengths. "She was entitled to do that, the trip was a bit sharp but it was a very poor race," said winning trainer Liz Doyle. “She wants to win and likes being a race horse. "Hopefully, there is a future for her on the Flat although there isn't much left between now and the end of the season, so we might pop back over jumps now. "She is the only horse I have for JP (McManus) at the minute and has now won a bumper, over hurdles and fences, and today on the Flat, so not many do 'the four'." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
