Belladaball skips home in Sligo Belladaball eased away from the 8/13 favourite Cotswold Blue for a facile victory in the Sligo Plumb Centre Mares Maiden Hurdle. The 100/30 chance tracked the favourite, who was making her jumping debut, and the pair separated themselves from the field inside the final half mile. Belladaball readily got on terms with Cotswold Blue after jumping two out and was clearly going the better. The pair jumped the last in unison, but Keith Donoghue could afford a peek across at Patrick Mullins as he was about to send his mount on. She quickened away on the bridle for a four-and-a-half-length success for Gavin Cromwell, with the runner-up returned the 8/13 favourite. There was a whopping gap of 20 lengths back to Searcog in third at 10/3. Belladaball was still in contention at Cork in early August when she fell three out. Troy Cullen, race planner for Cromwell, said: "She was very impressive and is a nice prospect. "When we looked at the race beforehand, we thought it looked like a winning opportunity for her. "She was going well when she came down at Cork, and no better man than Keith to get her jumping today and get some confidence back in her. "She's a Listed bumper winner, so you'd be hoping that she'd well up to winning a maiden hurdle, and she's done it nicely. "Keith mentioned the Grade 3 mares' novice at Down Royal in late October, so that's a possible target. "Brian Walsh, who's one of the (Galloping Gallivanters) syndicate, bred her as well, so that makes it even better." Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
