REVE DE VOL IS DREAM MACHINE

Karl Hedley reports on the latest action from over the sea

- Karl Hedley

Limited crowds were finally permitted to make a long-awaited return to the racetrack following a near 16-month gap. Down Royal was the first Irish track to allow up to 500 racegoers back for the two-day Ulster Derby meeting.

More will follow in due course and I have identified some eye-catching performances from recent weeks so that anyone who is fortunate enough to get to a racetrack can have a personal lookout for them in the parade ring.

At the beginning of the month, the listed Orby Stakes was run over a mile and a quarter at The Curragh. Reve De Vol got up in the dying strides to narrowly deny Patrick Sarsfield, O’Reilly and Nicest. Two of those, Patrick Sarsfield and Nicest, have gone on to run huge races at Royal Ascot, so Reve de Vol looks to be a horse to keep an eye on given the right conditions.

He was switched out from behind Patrick Sarsfield, who looked all over the winner and was delivered with a late finishing burst under Colin Keane. He ran creditably in Group company last season, so he was entitled to go well here despite being generally ignored by the betting market.

He had been gelded throughout the winter and it seems to have worked the oracle.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “That was a very good performance. Colin said a very true run mile would be right up his street. There was a bit of cat and mouse there today. Colin was able to fill him and try to get a gap out. He hit the line hard and it’s a nice race to win. He’s bred to get a mile and a half, but Colin said a true run mile and two would suit. If he keeps winning, we’ll keep him at that.”

Later on the card, Shanroe was a game-winner of a competitive ten-runner handicap over one mile and six furlongs. Robbie Colgan sat handy on the dual purpose performer and they went third going into the home straight.