Shadow bids to keep Love's stable in lights

Monroe's Live Mares Handicap Hurdle | 2m | ATR

Confidence is high that Dawn Shadow, winner of a valuable mares' novice hurdle at the Punchestown festival, can continue her upward curve in the feature at Ballinrobe.

The mare's trainer Dot Love enjoyed plenty of success for Dawn Shadow's owner Sean Riley, chiefly with Shadow Eile, who is a sister to the dam of this runner.

Ciaran Murphy, assistant trainer to Love, said of the latest stable star from the family: "She's been in super form since Punchestown and we couldn't be happier with her. Now she has a lot of weight to carry in the race, but we're hopeful of a good run from her.

Dot Love: yard is in tremendous formCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"As long as the ground is safe, she'll take her chance and after that hopefully she'll just get a bit of luck."

Next in the weights is Pat Fahy's Awayinthewest, who has placed seven times over hurdles but remains a maiden in this sphere.

Fahy said: "It's a very good prize and hopefully she's in there with a decent shout.

"She hasn't got her head in front over hurdles but it should happen for her before long. We're taking our chance as it's a very good prize and she'll be handsomely rewarded if she runs into the placings."

The Jessica Harrington-trained Flaviana, last seen finishing down the field behind Stormy Ireland in a Listed mares' hurdle at Killarney, is another interesting contender in the ten-runner contest.

The in-form trainer said: "I think she's got a great chance off that weight. She ran really well at Killarney last time – I know it was a much better class of race – and she's in very good form. She'll love the ground as long as it doesn't get too fast."

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