Delvino

The mares’ maiden hurdle was a cracking contest, and Delvino ran out an impressive winner or it. Prominent from early, the Dylan Thomas mare travelled well through her race for Adam Shot, up on the outside, and her jumping was good for a hurdling debutante, for all that she didn’t have to do a lot of it, because of the low sun. She moved nicely in third place behind Castra Vetera and Missy Eliot as they rounded the home turn, and tracked Castra Vetera into the home straight, but it quickly became apparent that Delvino was travelling better. Roseys Hollow travelled well in behind too, and Royal Illusion made good ground from the rear, but Delvino joined the leader as they raced past the by-passed second last flight, and she hit the front as they raced past the final flight, before staying on strongly to win by four lengths.

This was a very strong mares’ maiden hurdle. Hurdling debutante Royal Illusion, last year’s Irish Cesarewitch winner, is rated 94 on the flat, while Castra Vetera won a listed mares’ bumper on her debut this season, so had race fitness on her side as well, and Roseys Hollow had run well in a good maiden hurdle at Leopardstown in March. It wasn’t ideal that the low sun meant that they could only jump four of the scheduled eight flights of hurdles, but Delvino jumped the four hurdles nicely, and she travelled like the most likely winner from the top of the home straight. Dermot McLoughlin’s filly is nicely bred, a half-sister to the trainer’s Avellino, who handled heavy ground well, and this was just her third run and her debut over hurdles, so she has bags of potential to improve as she gains more experience.

Naas, 14^th December 2020