Review bellewstown 5th Jul

Harry Rogers sent out three runners for the Inter Vintners Pub Challenge Race Nite Handicap at Bellewstown and the trio fought out a thrilling finish of short heads.< Elusive Express (8-1) tried to make all under Pat Smullen and the writing looked on the wall when stablemate Lily's Star caught her at the furlong pole, but she fought back to regain the lead close home to snatch the prize.< Byron Beauty the third runner from the County Louth yard, finished with a rattle but the post came too soon and she was only third. The well-backed Dancingwithangels parted company with Billy Lee as the stalls opened.

Richest prize on the card was for the winner of the Fast Shipping Bellewstown Handicap Hurdle and it went to Rawnaq who was completing a hat-trick after victories at Punchestown and on the level at Navan.

Matthew Smith's 3-1 favourite led three out under the trainer's brother Kevin and was always in command as he beat Giant's Quest by four and a half lengths. He could go for the Galway Hurdle next, for which there is a 25,000 euro bonus.

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden lost some of its interest when Conversational was withdrawn after bursting out of the stalls, but Tracey Collins' 6-1 shot Luna Forest impressed as she scored by four and three-quarters lengths from a wide draw in the hands of Ronan Whelan.

Connor King loked to be going best on the David Marnane-trained He's Got Rhythm (11-2) entering the closing stages of the boyne-valley-hotel.ie Handicap and he eased ahead inside the final furlong before holding The Alarm Clock by half a length.

The young jockey completed his first double when he drove John Murphy's Sabaidee (12-1) clear to win the Hibernia Steel Products Handicap by seven lengths.

John Nicholson's in-foal mare Knockcroghery (11-8 favourite) followed up her Tipperary success last week when she motored past Donatis Comet close home to take the Kingbet Bookmakers Handicap by a length and a quarter under Luke Dempsey.