Ballybawn Belter (right) and Charlie O'Dwyer© Photo Healy Racing
Ballybawn Belter is proving a really progressive sort and recorded her third win over hurdles this year when taking the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Handicap Hurdle at Ballinrobe.
The Liz Doyle-trained mare won a valuable handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival in Leopardstown and was also successful this spring at the Punchestown Festival.
She didn’t really threaten at the Galway Festival but was right back to her best here.
The 9/2 chance was far from fluent at the final flight but was soon in front under Charlie O’Dwyer and drew clear inside the final furlong to beat Shannon Glory by an easy six lengths. Emily In Paris was a further two and a half lengths back in third.
Doyle said, "She missed the break badly in Galway and, in hindsight, at a quick track like that she probably didn't have the speed to drop down in trip. Maybe at the likes of Navan in the winter she'd be okay back in trip.
"I saw this race and said we'd try her over two-six. I don't think they went very quick, though, so she's probably still a two-and-a-half mare with the boot she shows.
"I was contemplating going over fences but Frank (Berry) twisted my arm and said we'd keep her over hurdles for the time being.
"I'm delighted with her. She was a skinny, narrow, very light thing last year and really has rounded up and strengthened up. Four-year-old fillies can lose their way but she's really started to go the right way physically. We'll look for another hurdle for her."
Quotes by Mark Nunan
