Connell and Bolger continue their fine form They finished well strung out in the Ballymore Beginners Chase with Espanito Bello (12/1) enhancing his fine course record with an emphatic 18 length victory. There was no jumping in the straight due to the low-lying sun and three greys turned for home together, with the winner looming up on the outside of front-running pair Coko Beach (9/2) and Lord Royal (5/6 fav). The latter dropped away tamely to finish fifth while Coko Beach stuck to his task but was no match for the Mark Bolger-ridden Espanito Bello, who was winning for the third time at Naas. Bolger is 7-31 this season when riding for winning owner/trainer Barry Connell who said: “He’d a lovely run here the last day and he made a couple of novicey mistakes. He learned from that today. “I was a bit nervous when they took the fences out because he is a good jumper. I thought he’d be there or thereabouts today but that’s an awesome performance. “He loves Naas. He won his bumper and maiden hurdle here and was just beaten by Court Maid in a handicap. “He may come back here in January for the Woodlands over three miles. Christmas will come too soon for him and he likes it here. “He’s not a horse that shows a whole lot at home but that was a serious performance against 145 rated hurdlers and he’s won easy. Happy days!” “He relishes that soft ground so if it dries up later in the season you might not see him on good ground. As long as there is a decent cut in it he’ll be fine. “He looks to be improving all the time and I couldn’t be more happy with him.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
