John McConnell saddles Pearl Of The West and Play The Game© Photo Healy Racing
Local trainer John McConnell saddles the two at the top of the handicap in a very competitive looking Fast Shipping Bellewstown Handicap Hurdle on Saturday evening. Pearl Of The West heads the weights in the E30,000 feature event with Adam Short booked to ease her burden by 5lb.
The Teofilo mare has proven one of the stars of McConnell's yard and landed a valuable pot at the Punchestown Festival in late April.
She disappointed on her next outing in a Listed event at Killarney but bounced back to form with a good effort on the Flat at Listowel last month, chasing home Newcross.
The five-year-old makes her third visit to Bellewstown having been successful on both her previous runs at the course.
She is joined by stablemate Play The Game who bounced back to form with a cosy win at Listowel last month.
The Lawman gelding received a 9lb hike for that victory and Conor Orr takes the ride now, reducing that rise by 5lb.
Gordon Elliott is mob-handed in the two-mile contest with four runners and Star Maker may prove the pick of his quartet.
The Mastercraftsman gelding made a winning return to action at Killarney in mid-May and tries to defy an 8lb rise for that victory.
Elliott will be hoping to collect in the following Byrne Marquees Hilltown Hurdle where his Count Simon and Make My Heart Fly appear the two to concentrate on.
The former is on a hot streak, having landed his last three races, and bids to give weight away to his rivals int he three-mile contest.
He switches back to the smaller obstacles now having opened his account over fences at Down Royal in early May.
Make My Heart Fly comes out best at the weights, getting half a stone off the gelding, and bids for compensation having fallen when in the lead at Down Royal last month.
Joseph O’Brien is well represented on the card Silk And Sand looks an interesting contender in the opening Western Motors Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Mares Maiden Hurdle.
The Beat Hollow filly looked smart when taking a Thurles bumper last November and makes her first outing since finding life a bit tougher in Listed company at Navan later that month.
O’Brien also has a leading chance in the other maiden hurdle on the card with Baboin
The Creachadoir gelding has been running well in bumpers and reverts to jumping having been runner-up on his sole previous try over hurdles at Cork last May.
