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Classy bumper performer Eileendover set for Flat switch this month

Eileendover: won three bumpers during the winter before finishing fourth at Aintree
Eileendover: won three bumpers during the winter before finishing fourth at AintreeCredit: Tim Goode (Getty/Pool)

Pam Sly’s classy three-time bumper winner Eileendover is set to transfer her talents to the Flat before the month is out, with a tilt at the Listed Daisy Warwick Fillies' Stakes at Goodwood on April 30 a favoured option.

The daughter of Canford Cliffs, who was originally due to start her racing career on the Flat, was a revelation during the winter, romping home in her first three races by an aggregate of 51 and a half lengths before finishing an honourable fourth in the Grade 2 mares' bumper at Aintree a week ago.

It is no surprise Eileendover is switching her attention to the Flat as she is related to Sly’s 1,000 Guineas heroine Speciosa, and has already enjoyed some stalls practice at home.

Sly said: “The plan is to run Eileendover on the Flat later this month, but there aren’t that many options for four-year-olds, so we may start her off in a Listed race at Goodwood over a mile and a half, which should suit her.

"There's a novice race at Wetherby before then, but that's over a mile and a quarter which may be a bit short.”

Reflecting on her stable star’s defeat at Aintree, Sly said: “The trip was over two miles and a furlong at Liverpool and I don’t think she stayed as they went a good clip from the off.

"Her previous wins at Huntingdon [1m5½f] and Wetherby [1m4½f] were over shorter trips and they don’t usually go that quick in bumpers for the first mile which made it look like she may get further as she finished out so well.”

Eileendover’s most significant win came in a Listed bumper at Market Rasen in January over 2m½f, but Sly thinks that gave a false impression. She added: “As the ground was so heavy that day they crawled the first part of the race which helped Eileendover in the later stages.”

As for the switch of codes, Sly added: “Originally, we were going to run her on the Flat last year but she was so backward we ran out of time.

"I didn’t fancy going on the all-weather with her so we thought we’d try bumpers and she just took off. She’s been going through the stalls every day at home she won’t be averse to them on the track.”


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Newmarket correspondent

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