Friday, September 21
First Race: 3.30
Jumping fans are looking forward to Ballinrobe on Friday where the first of eight races gets underway at 3.30pm.
The most valuable race down for the decision is the Irish EBF John Mulhern (Mares) Handicap Hurdle (5.10) with a field of nine runners going to post. Head Turner won this corresponding contest two years ago under the sidelined Ruby Walsh and she bids for a repeat win for the in-form Leighlinbridge trainer Pat Fahy under Roger Loughran this time. Among their rivals include the Gordon Elliott-trained Water Sprite with 7lb claimer Liam McKenna booked and light-weight Platinum Empress under championship leader Rachael Blackmore from the Liam Cusack Mountrath stable.
Willie Mullins is represented with Lareena who has struggled in handicap company in recent starts but the champion trainer holds a stronger hand later on the card with Montalbano in the six-runner J.J. Burke’s Peugeot Chase (6.10). A final fence faller when beaten at Listowel last June he looks a cut above his five rivals returning from a break, if given a clear round of jumping in the hands of Paul Townend.
The going at Ballinrobe is heavy.
Irish racing previews and news bulletins are brought to you by Horse Racing Ireland and the Racing Post
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The highlight of Tuesday’s Ballinrobe card is the €20,000 McGrath Limestone Works Ltd. Handicap Hurdle where recent Downpatrick winner Touch Base will be bidding to follow up on that success for Gordon Elliott.
Galway trainer Yvonne Dunleavy sends out Padraic O Conaire, who has won two out of his last three, shaping as though he’d appreciate this 2m6f trip each time.
Elsewhere on the card, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle boasts €15,000 and Philip Dempsey’s Persian Wind will be a strong fancy.
Racing gets underway at Ballinrobe at 5.50pm and the going is currently good.
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Irish Racing Preview
BALLINROBE
Monday, July 23
First race: 5.50pm
Irish racing heads west on Monday evening as Ballinrobe hosts a seven-race Flat meeting, with the €30,000 feature Win Big With Tote Handicap going to post at 7.20pm.
Coolcullen handler Jim Bolger has his string in great order at present and will be hoping his likeable performer Dawn Hoofer can continue her winning ways at the Mayo venue under Kevin Manning.
Paddy Twomey’s Ruler Of France is a Ballinrobe specialist though and will be out to land the big one of the evening under promising young apprentice rider Ben Coen.
Louth trainer Harry Rogers saddles Boom Or Bush in the Tote Handicap 8.20pm in a bid to compensate for his Sligo second in May under today’s rider Chris Hayes.
The concluding maiden on the card over an extended one mile and five furlongs could present a good opportunity for Donnacha O’Brien to add another winner to his jockeys’ championship bid as he rides his brother’s Treasure Chest in the colours of JP McManus.
Jessica Harrington’s capable hurdler Holding Pattern could however stand in the way of the O’Brien brothers, with Cork rider Colm O’Donoghue getting the leg-up on the six-year-old mare at 8.50pm.
Racing gets underway at Ballinrobe at 5.50pm and the going is currently good.
Irish racing previews and news bulletins are brought to you by Horse Racing Ireland and the Racing Post
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Irish Racing Preview
BALLINROBE
Tuesday, August 29
First Race: 4.25
The penultimate fixture of the year at Ballinrobe takes place on Tuesday where the first of seven races on a NH twilight card is due off at 4.25pm.
The €20,000 Hollymount Nursing Home Chase (6.55) over 2m 1f should be a lively betting affair despite a field of just five facing the starter. Three of the quintet are closely matched on official ratings and Ted Veale trained by Tony Martin comes here in good form having scored recently over hurdles at Sligo. Jessica Harrington’s Don’t Touch It is the highest rated runner in the field but must concede weight to his four rivals including The Game Changer who chased home Ted Veale at Sligo last time and is also reverting to the larger obstacles here.
Racing gets underway with the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (4.45) with a dozen runners going to post. Piltown trainer Joseph O’Brien could well have the solution here with Valgor Du Ronceray, the mount of Shane Shorthall. Placed in two of his recent completed starts over fences, this return to the smaller obstacles could yield a winning bracket with long-absent dual bumper-winning mare Now Let Go a possible danger making the long trip from the Larne, Co Antrim yard of Stuart Crawford. O’Brien, who sends three runners to the western venue, has claims also in the Corrib Oil Handicap Hurdle (6.25) over 3m 1f with Let’s Twist Again. He faces 15 rivals under Mark Walsh bidding to step up on a couple of places efforts in similar company at Wexford and Sligo over a furlong shorter this summer.
The going at Ballinrobe is currently soft.
Irish racing previews and news bulletins are brought to you by Horse Racing Ireland and the Racing Post
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Irish Racing Preview
BALLINROBE
Monday, July 24
First Race: 5.35
Palmones will carry plenty of local support when she bids to follow up last month’s course-and-distance win for Ballinrobe businessman and trainer Michael Flannery in the Win Big With The Tote Handicap (7.05).
Bought for €6,500 at Goffs in November after twice scoring for Andy Oliver, the Rock Of Gibraltar four-year-old gave Flannery his first win for more than five years when slipping through on the inside on the final bend to win by a length and a half under 5lb claimer Denis Linehan, who is back on board.
At nine, Vastonea is the oldest horse in the race and the Kevin Prendergast-trained gelding is bidding for a seventh win.
Vastonea’s biggest paydays have been at the Galway festival, where he won the valuable Topaz Mile in 2012 and 2014.
Heading the weights is the Michael Halford-trained Castle Guest, a seven-time winner whose most recent success was achieved over a mile at Leopardstown almost a year ago.
Dual winners Snoozing Indian and Remarkable Lady represent Thomond O’Mara and Harry Rogers respectively, while the Ado McGuinness-trained Rosenborg Rider, an all-weather winner over six furlongs for Ralph Beckett last year, completes the line-up.
With racing underway at 5.35, the ground at Ballinrobe is yielding to soft.
Irish racing previews and news bulletins are brought to you by Horse Racing Ireland and the Racing Post
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Irish Racing Preview
BALLINROBE
Tuesday, May 30
First Race: 6.00
Noel Meade has just one bullet in the chamber for the €40,000 McHale Mayo National at Ballinrobe on Tuesday, but it could be a potentially deadly one as the improving Net D’Ecosse fired a warning shot at Down Royal this month.
Successful in a beginners’ chase at Punchestown in December 2015, the Gigginstown-owned hope has not won since and has tended to throw in the odd sketchy jump, but he represents Meade’s in-form stable and is racing off a potentially lenient mark of 125.
Willie Mullins, another trainer operating at an impressive strike-rate, is represented by Sambremont and Retour En France.
It wouldn’t be a valuable handicap chase without a strong Gordon Elliott representation, and impressive Punchestown festival scorer Definite Ruby lines up alongside Jetstream Jack, who was a faller when still travelling well at the festival in a 2m4f handicap chase.
The McHale Coranna Handicap Hurdle (7.00) is a competitive affair and Ellmarie Holden’s Lachares looks likely to be prominent in the betting.
The opening McHale Pro Glide Mower Range Novice Hurdle is underway at 6.00pm and the ground at Mayo’s only track is currently good.
Irish racing previews and news bulletins are brought to you by Horse Racing Ireland and the Racing Post
Major thanks for the blog.Much thanks again. Will read on…
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