‘He means business’ – Michael Bell has first ever runner at Down Royal on Saturday

Normally we are accustomed to seeing British trainers head to Down Royal in the national hunt scene, but it is very rare to see a British trainer with a Flat runner at the Northern Irish track. Michael Bell is sending one horse over to the track on Saturday for a premier handicap and he wouldn’t be sending it over just for the fun of it. Make sure you check out our free horse racing tips on the website for today’s racing.

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4.25 Down Royal

The horse that Bell is sending over to Down Royal is Ibrahimovic, who runs in the valuable premier handicap, the BoyleSports Ulster Derby over the extended 1m4f. The son of Le Havre has shown enough in three starts to suggest that he can play a large part in the finish in this competitive affair, where nine runners are set to go to post.

Ibrahimovic was fifth of seven on his debut at Chelmsford back in November, given a learning ride on the day. However, he built on that run massively on his second career start when third behind Waipiro on the Rowley course at Newmarket in April under Oisin Murphy.

Waipiro bolted up in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot to give that form some real substance, while the fourth Majestic Warrior has since bolted up too. Bell’s charge went to Salisbury since and was beaten a short head and he could be really well treated on his handicap debut here off a mark of just 83. He won’t get the opportunity to race off a mark this low again one would imagine so they will have to make it count.

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