My Minervina back for seconds as Bellewstown concludes for the year

Thursday: Bellewstown

Former BHB chairman Peter Savill will be sorry Bellewstown's season has drawn to a close until next spring, as his filly My Minervina has developed quite a liking for the venue. She gained her second win of the year at the course when landing the 7½f fillies' handicap.

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor was winning for the third time this season for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley after setting the ball rolling in a claimer at the July festival here before following up in a Killarney handicap.

On this occasion she survived a very sluggish start before sustaining her effort on the outer to score by a decisive two lengths from Take My Hand and her unlucky stable companion Princess Rajj.

"She's had three runs here now with two wins and a second," said Foley, adding: "She likes to come from the back and Jessie put the blinkers on her. She’s in again on Saturday at Killarney and she'll probably run again. She’s been a good servant and seems to enjoy going left-handed. She doesn’t seem to act going the other way."

The fact she followed her win here in July with a win at Killarney does not augur badly for her chances of following up on Saturday.

Emotional winner for Rogers

The victory of Clifftop under Siobhan Rutledge in the first division of the concluding 1m4f handicap was more than tinged with poignancy, as it was sponsored by winning trainer Harry Rogers. Rogers named the race in memory of his late wife Mary, who passed away last November.

There were no shortage of well wishers in the winner's enclosure, and Rogers said: "It's very special. She was the brains behind the whole operation. She actually bought that horse as a yearling and we sold it on. Her last day's racing was here last year when that horse finished second, hopefully she is in a good place now.

"She was always a very happy woman, she loved horses and loved animals. It's a special day for all of us and I really appreciate it."

Title race

Colin Keane and Billy Lee have hit a wall in their battle for the jockey's championship with both riders struggling to be among the winners in recent weeks. Keane, the reigning champion, pulled level when enjoying a comfortable success on the Ger O'Leary-trained Aloysius Lilius in the 5f handicap.

Keane was denied a double when a front-running effort on 4-6 shot Hazy Mehmory came unstuck when he was outstayed late by market rival Magellan Strait under Mikey Sheehy in the 1m4f conditions race.

"He is genuine but he still rides as green as grass. Mikey said the best thing to happen was Colin coming and giving him a lead. He'll stay all day and in a year's time he could be a Cesarewitch horse," said Joseph O'Brien's assistant Brendan Powell.

The winner was the second leg of a double for O'Brien and Sheehy after Native Queen landed the 7½f fillies' maiden.

Results, replays and analysis

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