Bello so smooth on debut

"I couldn't fault the horse," was Mark O'Hare's verdict, and it was easy to see where that assessment came from after Espanito Bello put up a smooth performance from the front on debut, in the Rushe's Supervalu (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race at Naas.

Vastly experienced 5Ib claimer O'Hare got a lovely spin off the Turgeon gelding, and he didn't have to get serious with the 6/4 favourite to account for Killacolla by a length and a quarter.

Connections of the first three home will all be happy, and Kissesforkatie gave it her all from an on the pace berth to finish a short head behind in third.

"He stays going really well. He's probably not the flashiest or speediest bumper horse we'll ever have but we knew coming here he'd love that ground," revealed winning trainer Alan Fleming on Barry Connell's youngster.

"They went a good gallop and he's after winning really easily. We were thrilled with him.

"He's a nice horse and he's going to get two-and-a-half and three miles in time. He's going to be a nice horse on real winter ground.

"I was a little worried a furlong-and-a-half down and was saying 'give him a kick Mark.' I said to him 'jeez you were confident' but he said he had loads of horse and only had to give him a slap down the shoulder and he took off. He said he's really nice.

"I don't know where he'll go. He'll go wherever it's heavy and he mightn't go anywhere at all, we'll have to see what happens.

"The four-year-old winners bumper in Limerick would look tailor-made for him if it's heavy. We'll give him time as he's going to be a tall horse."

Connell and Fleming were also on the mark at the point-to-point in Aghabullogue County Cork with Timewaitsfornoone under Declan Queally.

(GC & EM)