Bubbly Bellini is driven out by Ian Brennan from First In Command on his inside© Photo Healy Racing
Bubbly Bellini (11/2) recorded his biggest success to date as he took the Bettor.com Rockingham Handicap over five furlongs for his trainer Adrian McGuinness with Ian Brennan in the saddle.
The 5yo son of Mull of Kintyre has been a revelation this season and has been running consistently since the beginning of June.
In that period he has now won four, finishing third on three occasions and fourth on his other start.
Today he chased the leaders in the early stages and was sixth halfway. He moved into fourth two furlongs out and was ridden to lead with over a furlong to go.
He kept on well under pressure in the final furlong to win by three parts of a length at the line from the Daniel Loughnane trained First In Command in second at 7/1 under Shane Kelly.
The 9/2 joint favourite An Saighdiur who beat the winner into third over the course and distance last time out, finished a neck back in third under Mickey Cleere for Andrew Slattery.
The other 9/2 joint favourite was the Charles O’Brien trained Possible and she finished fifth under Fran Berry.
Adrian McGuinness said afterwards: "My plan was to go for the seven furlong handicap yesterday but when I saw the entries for this I knew the field wasn’t going to be too big so I decided to go for it instead.
"He is not an out and out sprinter but the way the ground is he is getting away with the five.
"He was rated 51 just six weeks ago and I’m a bit shocked as I didn’t think he was as good as this. He is versatile trip wise and he will probably go to Galway now for the big seven furlong handicap.
"Ian is value for around three or four pounds as he knows him so well.”
