19:30 Ballinrobe

Monday 14 August 2017

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Bank Of Ireland Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 5m 33.60s

Fabulous Saga²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| BF

4/9

Victorious in a bumper over 2m2f here on good ground in May. Sent off as favourite when finishing runner-up over 2m4f at Listowel in June when second of ten and when runner-up in eight runner bumper at Tipperary last month.

Form: 13-122

Masterson^t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 98

11/2

Rattled off the wins for Mick Channon on the Flat this spring. Uninspiring five race juvenile hurdling career last season. Interesting on first spin over timber for new yard.

Form: 6U444-

Balkalin¹⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Loughran| T: Barry J Murphy

12/1

Plenty of nice finishing position figures, but distance beaten tell another story. Well beaten on all four occasion, though the step up in trip looks a requirement for improvement.

Form: 43/35-

Barneymac³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: E Sheehy

40/1

Whitmore's Conn half-brother to bumper winner/useful hurdler Laser Light. Finished last of thirteen on debut in a Punchestown bumper in May, before well beaten, 22L in Wexford maiden on hurdling debut last month.

Form: 08

Floramar⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer

4/1

No impression and no signs of promise in two disappointing displays in maiden hurdles at Leopardstown and Downpatrick, last run in May.

Form: 8-4

Mon Storm⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Robbie Colgan| T: V Wilson

33/1

Lightly-raced six-year-old was beaten more than 50L in a hurdles contest at Fairyhouse over 2m4f in April. Not seen since May and best watched.

Form: 860-8

Mystic Embarr⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: D Broad

66/1

Tailed off in both starts over hurdles during May 2016 and no improvement when 10th of 12 in Downpatrick maiden hurdle over extended 2m in June.

Form: 00-0

Black Allstar^t1

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: G N Fox| T: G P Cromwell

25/1

Unraced son of Jeremy, who was from family of Deep Impact; dual purpose; sire of top-class hurdler Our Conor.

Form:

Kosovo^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: R T Dunne| T: S J Mahon

66/1

Last of 18 on racecourse debut in January this year in Thurles maiden hurdle, subsequently well beaten in four bumpers since.

Form: 05-540

Cloudy Day^t1⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: A E Lynch| T: N Lee

66/1

Signs of ability though had jumping issues in point-to-points, falling on three of his five starts. Wears a tongue tie for his rules debut here.

Form: F6/F4-F

Dingle Gin³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: J M Moore| T: L P Cusack

25/1

Form in point-to-point is very ordinary and has been well beaten in last two hurdle starts at Gowran Park and Roscommon over 2m and 2m4f.

Form: P83-200

Non-Runners

Sea Bank³¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: H Rogers J: J J Burke

Mother's Best¹⁷

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: N Stokes J: B R Dalton

Forecasts

Fabulous Saga (4/9), Floramar (4/1), Masterson (11/2), Mother's Best (11/2), Sea Bank (10/1), Balkalin (12/1), Dingle Gin (25/1), Black Allstar (25/1), Mon Storm (33/1), Barneymac (40/1), Mystic Embarr (66/1), Cloudy Day (66/1), Kosovo (66/1)

It would be a big surprise if Ruby Walsh does not take FABULOUS SAGA to the front here and make all on the favourite. The willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was runner-up over 2m4f at Listowel in June when second of ten and when runner-up in eight runner bumper at Tipperary last month. Masterson, Mother's Best and Sea Bank are best of the rest.