Both consistent and progressive, in both codes, this season, Billie Frechette should take plenty beating in the Grant Thornton Ulster Cesarewitch in Down Royal.
A four-year-old Zoffany filly, she has won three of her last six outings, two on the flat and one over hurdles, and has rock-solid claims here off 65, with the season’s leading rider Dylan Browne McMonagle in the saddle.
Meade’s charge belatedly opened her account, at the 15th attempt, when landing a 0-60 two-mile handicap, off 55, on Dundalk’s polytrack back in March.
And she has produced a run of solid efforts since, only failing to finishing in the first two when fourth to one of today’s rivals The Truant in Navan in early April.
Billie Frechette returned to winning ways at this venue in April, taking a 13-furlong handicap off 59, beating Arcland.
Then, returning to hurdling, she made it fifth-time-lucky over obstacles when landing a Cork maiden hurdle at the expense of 120-rated Luker’s Tipple.
And, last time, at the Galway festival, she had to settle for the runner-up berth behind Cleopatra’s Needle , off 117, on her handicap hurdle debut.
Back on the level here, Billie Frechette looks an improved performer, should cope with this extended trip and will be tough to beat.
In Down Royals maiden action, Johnny Feane’s Shadow Of The Moon, runner-up to Stella Alpina at Tipperary last time, looks a stand-out in the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
And the Natalia Lupini-trained Eleven A, keen when trying to make all and. ultimately, finishing fourth to Solomon Islands on his debut at Leopardstown (Pliny was third) might open his account in the Irish EBF Auction 2-Y-0 Maiden.
Meanwhile, Kilbeggan will end its season with a seven-race card, on which Donncha Duggan’s Ballykinlar, up a total of 24lb. for his summer exploits, might be capable of defying the handicapper and top-weight in the Sean Daly Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old has completed a hat-trick this summer, kicking off at this track in July before scoring twice in Sligo.
He looked a winner at all stages when beating Grange Walk last time and, up another 7lb., might go in again.
Later, in-form John McConnell’s Minella Supreme, a Downpatrick bumper winner and in front unseating Alex Harvey at the second last on his hurdling bow on the same track, might gain compensation, despite conceding weight to his fifteen rivals, in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.
DOWN ROYAL
John Ryan
4.15. Killourney Reigns
4.50 Shadow Of The Moon (n.b.)
5.22 Eleven A
5.54 Venetian Star
6.24 Billie Frechette (Nap)
6.54 Ohmali
7.24 Gallo Dell Cielo
Next Best
4.15 Bad Boy Rizz
4.50 Miss Travers
5.22 Pliny
5.54 Gas Works Wall
6.24 Sign From Above
6.54 Doctor Grace
7.24 Mischief Man
KILBEGGAN
John Ryan
3.57 Nelsom Muntz
4.32 Ballykinlar
5.07 Minella Supreme
5.37 Georginas Jet
6.07 Ho My Lord
6.37 Nas Na Riogh
7.07 Wartime Leader
Next Best
3.57 Backwithyourown
4.32 Jerrari
5.07 Dolce N’ Milana
5.37 The Little Yank
6.07 Full Of Life
6.37 A Wave Of The Sea
7.07 St Lawrence’s Well