22-05-2025
Intellotto can make winning start to life over fences at Limerick
Not too many Lope De Vega's take their chance over fences, but Intellotto can add to the small band of the stallion's progeny to be successful in the sphere by taking the Summer Racing At Limerick Racecourse Beginners' Chase, the third race on this evening's card in Limerick.
Joseph O'Brien's now five-year-old has won once in seven outings thus far on the level, boasts two wins from five outings over timber, and can make an immediate impact over the larger obstacles.
Last time out, in mid-April in Mallow, he was having his first run since August, and it showed as he was never able to get into a position to land a meaningful blow. Nevertheless, he finished third behind Smooth Tom and just three parts of a length behind Jigoro, who is his chief rival this time.
While that one has previous form over fences and it was a second-place finish, it was a disappointing effort, and the quick ground is likely to be against him. Intellotto is proven on good going, is 10lbs better off with Jigoro, and with that run under his belt, he should be more than ready to do himself justice.
Only four go to post for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares' Chase but it is quite an interesting race. It is difficult to look beyond the Henry de Bromhead-trained Look To The West, who ran well on her chasing debut, which was during a sticky period for the stable, and duly built on it by winning a beginners' chase in late April at Kilbeggan.
Having been tried at graded level twice last season, she is clearly held in some regard, and it will be disappointing if she fails to follow up here. However, Je T'Ai Ports has loads of experience and it's not inconceivable that she will be allowed to return to her free-going, front-running tactics to exploit the inexperience of the selection. If that is the case, it could put a very different spin on the race. A Law Of Her Own has some smart form but needs to improve to worry the selection.
Aspurofthemoment can also make an immediate impact over fences by taking the Munster Drilling Beginners' Chase. Winner of a Dromahane point-to-point for Eugene O'Sullivan, he subsequently joined Gavin Cromwell and continued on his winning way by taking a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park. He then followed up at Bellewstown, and he looks the type to maintain his progress now sent over larger obstacles.
Iceberg Theory and Grooveykindoflove can fill the frame.
