There was a ‘wheat from chaff’ feel about the first round of the Coral Brighton Belle at HOVE on Thursday with three of the four heats going to short priced favourites and the other seeing the second favourite turn over the jolly.
1-2f Droopys Costa (Aero Majestic-Droopys Orelans, Jul 14) justified her odds in the first heat though she (T4) was made to work for it by the front running Clairkeith Ayana (T6 12-1). Dean Child’s winner crossed the line in 3018 (N) for the 515m with Willmount Manor (T3 4-1) short heading Ayana for second place.
Heat two featured defending Belle Banabane (Droopys Scolari-Ballymac Razl, Mar 14) and Seamus Cahill’s evens favourite (T6) showed no signs of relinquishing her crown with a dominant display from trap six. The 29.99 winner would be followed home by second favourite Away Shelly (T3 2-1) with two lengths between the pair and Droopys Two (T5 10-1) a similar distance back in third.
Heat three saw second favourite Beechers Spirit (Superior Product-Swinley Bottom, Oct 15) turn over the 5-4f Droopys Jester (T5). Tony Bullen’s 2-1 chance clocked 30.02 with the winning distance of three quarters of a length. Courts Ad Laney (T2 6-1) was third.
Heat 4 appeared at the mercy of Garfiney Bolt (Razldazl Rioga-Ruby Cu, Oct 14) and so it proved. Running from trap five, Jason Heath’s evens favourite held off Aithusa (T4 2-1) by a length and a half in 30.07. Ballymac Miscula (T2 9-2) ran on for third.
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