Barrington Court seeks back-to-back wins in Bluebell Stakes for Harrington

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bluebell Stakes (Listed) | 1m3f 190y | RTV

Jessica Harrington is playing the percentages with Barrington Court heading a four-strong challenge for the trainer as she attempts for back-to-back victories in this Listed contest.

Successful in this race 12 months ago when the ground was soft before following up the Finale Stakes here on heavy, Barrington Court will need to prove herself as effective at this level on yielding ground.

Harrington is likely to have had a big red circle around this race all season for Barrington Court, who has run just twice this season, but her latest fourth in the Group 3 Irish St Leger Trial was an excellent effort.

She should be primed to go close and looks as though she will be hard to beat.

Flor De La Luna is quite similar to Barrington Court in that she needs softer ground to be at her best. She is a highly talented filly in her own right and provides back-up to the main challenge.

The four-pronged attack is completed by Lady Anner, capable of picking up black-type if at her best and Pappina, who has modest claims on ratings.

The Dermot Weld-trained Zawara was third to Barrington Court in the Finale Stakes at this track last November and comes into this off the back of a narrow defeat at Group 3 level at Leopardstown.

Thunder Kiss sets a pretty decent standard for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane, but has to give weight away for her Group 3 win at Cork earlier in the season.

What they say

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Barrington Court, Flor De La Luna, Lady Anner and Pappina
We have strength in numbers! Barrington Court won this race last year and the plan has always been to come back for the race, I just hope the ground is soft enough. The same applies to Flor De La Luna but she will have to run. Lady Anner has some good form and on her day she may get some black-type. Pappina has a lot to do on ratings but the aim is to get some black type as well.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Merroir and Lovely Esteem
Merroir is in good shape. She had a good run at Galway last time and any rain that falls will be a help to her. If Lovely Esteem can bring her best form, she will have a live each-way chance. It’s a new distance but we are hopeful she will get the trip.

Andy Slattery, trainer of Pineapple Express
We think there’s more to come and if she got third it would be great, the aim is to get black type. She had a big run on ground that would have been too quick for her last time and she’s improving.

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