27th-Apr-2023

This is obviously competitive, but I think that Broomfield Bijou should be at least a little shorter than she is.

Philip Dempsey’s mare ran well in a maiden hurdle at Navan last month, giving best only to a 100/1 shot of Finbar Hand’s, staying on well after she was hampered at the third last flight.

She stepped forward from that last time at Ballinrobe, when she beat the useful Banntown Girl fairly comprehensively.  Banntown Girl had finished third behind yesterday’s opening race winner Ballybawn Belter in the Paddy Mullins Mares’ Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.  That is solid form.

Broomfield Bijou was good at Ballinrobe, she tracked the leader and went on around the home turn, winning by nine lengths in the end, with Banntown Girl miles clear of the rest.  She is a nicely progressive mare, she is only five and she has run just five times over hurdles, and a handicap rating of 118 is more than fair for this, her handicap debut.  Banntown Girl is rated 117, and she beat her well, getting just 3lb from her.

Philip Dempsey won this race with another mare Broomfield Hall last year, and it may be that he has had it in mind for Broomfield Bijou for a little while.

BROOMFIELD BIJOU WON (ADV 10/1, SP 6/1)