Hill completes sprint hat-trick in style

Harry's Hill made it three wins on the bounce when running out a smooth winner of the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap at Bellewstown.

The Martin Hassett-trained gelding had been hit with an 11lb hike for his most recent success at the Curragh but managed to shrug off that burden with an impressive performance under Scott McCullagh.

Quickly into stride, he sat just behind leaders Iva Batt and No Speed Limit while always looking as though he was just in second gear.

Once McCullagh asked the Heeraat gelding to go and win his race over a furlong out, he eased ahead and soon had matters in hand. Tai Sing Yeh stayed on well from mid-division to take second close home, with No Speed Limit back in third.

Hassett said:- “I can't believe it, three in a row! It's hard enough to get a horse to win one but now he's after winning three.

“He's just transformed and he's a legend. Maybe it's just that he's a year older and he's taking his racing a bit better.

“He blew a fuse one day with Seamie in the stalls at Navan so we try to get him in as late as we can. Whether that has transformed or maybe he's just taking his racing better.

“We're doing nothing different to last year. He's winning races now easily.

“We might give him another run in the Curragh, Scott said there is a big pot in him.

“Our horses are running well, Secret Magician was third in a big handicap at the Curragh last Saturday. When you are on fire, you're on fire.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson