Levanto back on course

Going back up in trip and returning to the scene of her course and distance victory in June, Levanto (7s into 11/2) bounced back to her best with a vengeance in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund 'Be My Guest' Fillies Handicap at the Curragh under Johnny Murtagh.

Murtagh pulled out to challenge on Willie Mullins' charge and once getting a gap the daughter of Lawman took over a furlong out before going away to slam Drifting Mist (7/2 favourite) by two and a quarter lengths.

"We gave her a break after her last start. I hadn't intended running her for another ten days but I saw the two fifty grand handicaps this weekend – this and at Killarney – and I said I better put her in.

"I brought her up here during the week for a bit of work and David Casey rode her. She needed it but she was in great form so we decided to let her go on Sunday (today).

"We changed the riding tactics today as well and Johnny thought that made a big difference.

"She disappointed here after she won last time and she had a hard race to win that day.

"She looks back on track and the grass is going up again!

"I did think she was a Listed or a Group 3 filly and maybe she's back on course," commented Mullins of the Hourihan/O'Brien Partnership-owned successful three-year-old.

The Stewards requested a report from W P Mullins, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Levanto, winner, as compared with its recent form. The trainer reported that in hindsight he had probably run the filly back too quickly at Leopardstown last time after having run poorly at Naas the week before. Today she was running after having had a much longer break and she seemed to return to form. Having considered the evidence the Stewards accepted the contents of the report.

(GC & EM)