20:35 Ballinrobe

Tuesday 1 May 2018

All17:3518:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:35

Connaught Telegraph Flat Race

Off time: 20:35 | Winning time: 4m 59.1s

Ask Henry³³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: Ms M Mullins| BF

12/1

Closely related to some useful types, including hurdles winners Chomba Womba and Down In Neworleans, slightly disappointing when made favourite at Clonmel in March, finishing third, and may require better ground than he may get here.

Form: 3-

Berkeley Byron

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R A Devine⁽⁷⁾| T: S J Mahon

50/1

Not much to be taken form the pedigree and yard not known for winners in this sphere. Others preferred.

Form:

Castlebrook⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr E P O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Mangan| BF

5/2

Twice beaten at short prices already (including at long odds-on last time) but Cork maiden hurdle second in November is working out well and looks solid form. Clearly not one for the mortgage but every chance here.

Form: 12/23-

I Understand

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: G M O'Neill

25/1

Looked moderate on only start in a point-to-point in December and can only be watched here.

Form:

Speirling^t1¹⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr W W McMahon⁽⁷⁾| T: P G Kelly

16/1

Outran 50/1 odds when sixth in a good Punchestown bumper on debut last April and showed that no fluke when running to a similar level back there in November. Tongue tie on today, should progress and may get among the prizes.

Form: 0/5-

Valdieu^t1¹⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare⁽⁵⁾| T: N Meade| BF

2/1

Half brother to a 2m4f winner in France, plenty of promise to be taken form his midfield finish behind the useful Vision Des Flos on debut but disappointing when beaten at odds-on at Navan last time. Needs to bounce back now, but chances.

Form: F19/2-

Vent D'Automne¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

9/4

E100,000 purchase at Goffs Punchestown back in 2016 but not seen on a racecourse until second at Limerick last month. That was promising enough, and he should improve for top yard going great guns at present.

Form: 2/2-

Total Diva

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr T Hamilton⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Austin

50/1

No great shakes on pedigree and although yard 1-8 in bumpers last five years, others make a bit more appeal today.

Form:

Non-Runners

Global Jackpot³⁷

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: Ms L O'Neill

Forecasts

Valdieu (2/1), Vent D'Automne (9/4), Castlebrook (5/2), Global Jackpot (6/1), Ask Henry (12/1), Speirling (16/1), I Understand (25/1), Total Diva (50/1), Berkeley Byron (50/1)

Unusually for a bumper, this has quite an open look to it, and a few can be given a chance. Vent D'Automne will be popular for a yard that do well in the events but a long absence between his two appearances (one in a point-to-point, one in a bumper) suggest he's either had issues or has needed plenty of time. Castlebrook would hold a leading chance on hurdles form and Valdieu may do better with the tongue tie on tonight, but an e/w chance is taken on SPEIRLING to upset the applecart. He travelled nicely on his debut at Punchestown in a race that's worked out well, and should have more to offer this season.