BELL OF BALL

Estrella ready to waltz passed her Hurry Harriet rivals

THE Dermot Weld-trained Bella Estrella might be capable of successfully conceding weight to her 13 rivals in the listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Hurry Harriet Stakes in Gowran Park this evening.

Weld has won this event, which commemorates the Paddy Mullins-trained winner of the 1973 Champion Stakes, three times in the last five years.

And, although Bella Estrella must shoulder a 3lb penalty for her listed win at Killarney last month, the daughter of High Chaparral looks progressive, should appreciate this longer trip and sets a decent standard.

Unbeaten in her two starts at three, having been unraced as a juvenile, the selection finished fourth to Turret Rocks in a similar contest in late May and, ridden close to the pace in Killarney, beat Hence (in the field again today) and Panstarr. Open to further improvement, Bella Estrella gets the vote.

Willie Mccreery’s Liquid Amber, unraced since finishing ninth behind Bilesdon Brook in the English 1,000 Guineas is unexposed after just three runs while the Willie Mullins-trained Lagostovegas is rated to have every chance but faces a test over this shorter trip.

And Curly, winner of her maiden here before finishing last of four, but only beaten a length and a half, behind Turret Rocks in the Group 3 Meld Stakes at Leopardstown, might prove best of the five O’brien runners, three for Aidan and two for Joseph.

Weld and Declan Mcdonogh also have obvious prospects with Espoir D’soleil in the Irish Stallion Farms

Fillies Handicap and

Dabiyr, well-backed but very green when second to Burning

Question on his debut over seven furlongs at

Galway, in the concluding maiden.

Dabiyr will know more about the job this time and, despite a high draw, might have the edge over two other promising, once-raced colts First Response and Cloak Of Darkness. Earlier, the once-raced Ballydoyle colt South Pacific, a son of Galileo, should be tough to beat in the sevenfurlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden.

This fellow contested a winners race at Tipperary on his debut and, green as grass, caught the eye making late headway to finish fourth behind better fancied stable-companion Cape Of Good Hope.

Given a kind introduction, he’ll be ridden again by Seamus Heffernan, inset, and, assuming lots of improvement, might have the measure of Giga White, well-backed and in the frame in both outings in Curragh maidens for Ger Lyons, and the Weld-trained newcomer Edessann.

NOT SUITED BY DISTANCE Willie Mullins-trained Lagostovegas