18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

O'Callaghan finishing the season with a flourish

Tue 26th Oct 2021, 13:42

Belle Fourche and Leigh Roche (near side) beat New York City
Belle Fourche and Leigh Roche (near side) beat New York City
© Photo Healy Racing

Michael O’Callaghan has had a fine year with his two-year-olds and Belle Fourche (14/1) was another winner for him in that category in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The homebred daughter of Brazen Beau, ninth on her debut, tracked the leaders before launching a challenge racing to the final furlong.

She soon gained a narrow advantage over the front-running 4/5 favourite New York City and kept on well to defeat the market leader by a neck with Melnik (22/1) catching the eye back in third a further length and a quarter away.

Belle Fourche is the fourth maiden winner to come out of the race won by Heart To Heart at Navan earlier in the month.

“She's improved all year, as the season went on she has gotten stronger and put on a lot of condition,” said winning rider Leigh Roche.

“Today I jumped and travelled away well but she had a little blow with me a furlong down, took a heave, so she will improve again from it.

“She's a grand filly, straightforward and genuine. It's a pity that there probably aren't any races left for her to try for a bit of black-type but Michael (O'Callaghan) will make a plan for her.”

Quotes from Gary Carson

1st
14/1
Tote €13.60 €3.20
2nd
nk
4/5Fav
€1.10
3rd
1.25L
22/1
€7.10
4th
0.5L
18/1
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.