Princess Aloof too classy for her rivals

Princess Aloof got first run on Bluebell and was always holding her rival in Gowran Park’s seven furlong nursery.

With treble-seeking Focussed a non-runner due to being off feed, this race was “wide open” as jockey Danny Grant commented. Princess Aloof was always at the head of affairs but Fran Berry pushed her a couple of lengths clear two furlongs out. From there she kept on well to win by a length and three parts at 11/4.

The 5/2 favourite, Bluebell, was sluggish from the stalls, but made headway to chase down Princess Aloof approaching the final furlong. She never got on terms though in coming in second, a length and a half ahead of Keyword

Jessica Harrington, who trains the winner, said: “She just didn’t get going in time at Galway. We had a good draw today so the plan was to get out and make use of it and Fran did a great job.

“She’s not that big but very tough and knows her business now. We’ll probably go back to Killarney later this month for the nursery. It’s a mile there and we may not have to force it as much.”

Princess Aloof was third to Focus in a seven furlong nursery at Galway at the start of the month when sent off 7/4 favourite.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee