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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Belle Metal leads home Mullins 1-2 in mares maiden

Sat 5th Mar 2022, 14:51

Belle Metal (Paul Townend) beating Take TeaBelle Metal (Paul Townend) beating Take Tea
© Photo Healy Racing

Willie Mullins appeared to have a stranglehold on the Racing Again March 12th Mares Maiden Hurdle and so it proved with Belle Metal getting the better of stablemate and fellow 11/10 joint favourite Take Tea

Take Tea set the pace under Mark Walsh and was still in front as Belle Metal appeared to have plenty to do in third between the final two flights.

Belle Metal landed on all fours over the last but found plenty under pressure for Paul Townend to eventually score by a length and a half. Space Tourist outran odds of 80/1 when prominent throughout and, despite jumping left at the final two flights, kept on one pace to finish a length and a quarter back in third.

Townend said, “She has a bit to learn yet about jumping. I'd say the ground being dead probably helped us over two miles as she stays. It's tacky old ground and when they got at it she outstayed them.”

When asked if she had hit a flat spot he added, “She did and she wasn't helped at the time she hit it. She's not the quickest and doesn't jump the quickest but she's getting the hang of it and she'll stay further.”

(GC & AM)

1st
11/10JFav
Tote €2.10 €1.10
2nd
1.5L
11/10JFav
€1.10
3rd
1.25L
80/1
€11.10
4th
10L
33/1
About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.