BELLEWSTOWN NATIONAL HUNT PREVIEW

Racing returns to Bellewstown tomorrow with a competitive seven-race Wednesday card.

The first race is off at 4.45 pm in the afternoon with a maiden hurdle before rounding off at 8.14pm  with a flat race over the 2m1f trip.

The opener (4.45) sees a large field of 17 runners head to the track and useful Flat winner Pinot Gris can get off the mark over obstacles here for trainer Gavin Cromwell, having finished third in a juvenile hurdle at Cork last time out. The main threat could come from stablemate African Lady on debut, a filly out of Australia who is worth keeping an eye on the market for.

Race two (5.20) is the 2m1f handicap hurdle for horses rated between 80 and 109. The Cromwell-trained Club Manager makes his handicap debut and is one to note after looking useful on the Flat while Wrecking Ball Paul, trained by Paul Mulligan, also holds very strong claims off a tempting mark having won twice on the Flat in 2024.

The third race on the card (5.55) sees eight runners head to post for the mares’ handicap hurdle and the selection here is for Jolie Coeur Allen for powerhouse trainer Willie Mullins, who is likely to head off favourite having finished third on his last two spins and last year trailed Golden Ace home one place back at Aintree, who has since gone on to win a Listed novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham earlier this month.

Pictured above trainer Gavin Cromwell charges are  fancied to open and close the card with Pinot Gris and Adragoogle.

Race four (6.30) is another maiden hurdle with 12 runners set to tackle the 2m4f trip around Bellewstown. The Flying Bee enters with the best form, fifth at Fairyhouse on hurdling debut 60 days ago. The Jessica Harrington-trained Confidential Newcomer is an interesting newcomer, a half-sister to a point-to-point winner and 3m chaser Crosshill, so should get this trip on debut.

O’Faiolains Glory is taken to defy a 10 lb rise in the weights having won at Down Royal ten days ago to secure back-to-back wins in race five at Bellewstown (7.05), while the penultimate race of the evening (7.40) could go the way of the Charles Byrnes-trained Workforadime, a fine second at Thurles last time out who can go one better here.

Finally, the card comes to a close with the Flat race at 8.14 and eight runners are set for a trip around the 2m1f distance. Adragoogle for the Cromwell yard holds the strongest claims of all, switching to bumpers having finished second in a maiden hurdle at Down Royal on March 17.

Bellewstown selections – Wednesday (via Punchestown odds)

4.45 – Pinot Gris

5.20 – Wrecking Ball Paul

5.55 – Jolie Coeur Allen

6.30 – The Flying Bee

7.05 – O’Faolains Glory

7.40 – Workforadime

8.14 – Adragoogle