Sheila Lavery is dreaming of Royal Ascot after watching Belle Image bely her lofty odds to finish a close fourth in last Sunday’s Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh.

The daughter of Kodi Bear went off an unconsidered 125/1 shot under Robbie Colgan in the fillies Classic but finished just a length and a quarter behind Empress Josephine to leave the Meath trainer dreaming big.

The Royal meeting is next up as Lavery readies Belle Image for the Group Three Jersey Stakes.

“I was absolutely delighted with her, she’s just pure heart. I felt she wouldn’t be disgraced. When you’re up against fillies with those pedigrees, I wasn’t expecting to win, but I was very hopeful of a very good run.

“I’d say we’ll go for the Jersey. I didn’t put her in the Coronation Stakes, which was maybe a mistake in hindsight. I think the Jersey will be the next step and I’ll have a look at the programme after that,” she said.

Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien’s Love is also set to be Ascot-bound with the dual Classic-winning filly likely to make her seasonal return in next month’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Last weekend’s Tattersalls Gold Cup had been her intended target but the Ballydoyle maestro opted to take out the daughter of Galileo due to heavy going and she looks set for the Ascot Group One where she will be joined by recent Chester winner Armory.

Elsewhere, a field of 15 go to post in the McHale Mayo National (7.45) at Ballinrobe this evening where Rachael Blackmore looks set to add more silverware after a stunning few months in the saddle with huge successes at Cheltenham and Aintree.

The trail-blazing Tipperary rider partners Popong for her boss Henry de Bromhead and the seven-year-old, which should revel in the heavy going, arrives in fine form after a brilliant third in a similar event at the Punchestown Festival.