Russians get a Bellewstown Boost

Billy Lee kept Nitro Boost sufficiently balanced and going forward to land the Peter O’Keeffe Memorial Maiden (Plus 10 Race) at Bellewstown.

On her second start the daughter of Dandy Man was odds-on following on from a Curragh second placing 17 days back.

From stall two she was going to be difficult to beat with a reproduction of her effort from headquarters and so it proved as Willie McCreery’s juvenile upstaged Arabic Channel by half a length.

"She's a nice filly but it's a hard place here to win. She travelled lovely and shot through the gap but she hit the road and got unbalanced again," reflected McCreery.

"The guys (Imperial Crown Syndicate) bought her last year and have been very patient. She looked a real early two-year-old and then she grew and I gave her time off. It was the right thing to do for the filly.

"We'll have a look at the Premier Nursery in Navan if it doesn't get too soft on Saturday week (September 8), and we might try to get some black type after that.

"They are a Russian Syndicate that have horses in Ireland and it's the second filly that I have run for them. They board them all in Swordlestown and Tony Watkins manages them."

The Stewards informed Patrick Martin, trainer that Ebony Belle would have to be recertified before being declared to run from stalls again.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Darkash at the request of trainer, J.A.Stack, and reported the animal to be blowing hard post race.

(AM & EM)