Ballybawn Belter back on form with Limerick success

Ballybawn Belter took a step forward in her career to claim the Campion Insurance Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick.

The seven-year-old is trained by Liz Doyle for owner JP McManus and was aiming to hit the frame again after coming home unplaced in the Troytown at Navan when last seen.

Her prior form this season was encouraging, however, and she delivered in style at Listed level under Simon Torrens with an 11-length success at odds of 6-1.

Doyle said: “She had a couple of good runs at the start of this season and then we thought we’d try the Troytown but it just stretched her a bit. The heavy ground over three miles at Navan just stretched her.

“It’s a lovely race to win with a great history to it. The soft ground is not too deep and they are finishing quite well today, so we just got away with it.

“There is a two-mile-five-furlong race at the Dublin Racing Festival and a little bit better ground should be a good fit.”

Elsewhere on the card Danny Mullins was in good form with two winners across the afternoon, firstly in the Whitebox Property Group Maiden Hurdle as King Rasko Grey struck at 16-5 for trainer Willie Mullins.

The jockey said: “It was a fair performance. He travelled well in the straight and after being a bit awkward at the last, he picked up well.

“It looked a strong enough maiden and it was a taking performance that he could win with that bit of ease. It takes a bit of getting.

“Willie delivered him in good shape here and hopefully there is a nice spring to look forward to with him.”

The same rider then took the CUBE Maiden Hurdle aboard the 3-1 chance You Proof, who scored from Henry de Bromhead’s 4-5 favourite King’s Bucks.

Mullins said: “He was good. I thought the De Bromhead horse had fair form from a Cheltenham graded race and was going to be difficult to beat, but I travelled smooth behind him.

“He got the job done and ran away nicely at the finish.

“He’s a good horse and jumped well through the race. He was always giving me the feel that I could pick up and go.

“I’d say he could be a strong stayer in the spring.”

Paul Nolan’s Joyau De Thaix came out on top as a 25-1 shot in the Infinity Lifts Handicap Hurdle, ridden by Jordan Gainford to prevail by a length and a quarter.

Gainford said: “They thought he was a very nice horse at the start and he had a few problems. It’s nice to come back and get his head in front today.

“I thought we went a nice, even gallop the whole way. I’d a lovely position and got a bit outpaced at the top of the hill.

“I thought going to the last that the horse in front would have to do something silly and he made a right mistake.

“My lad was good over the last two and hit the line well.”