17:30 Ballinrobe

Monday 28 May 2018

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

Tuam Herald Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 4m 8.80s

Hurricane Volta^p,t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 112

16/1

66-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer Peter Hedger and plenty of promise on his two starts for new connections in February and ina Tramore maiden hurdle last month. Represents leading yard and remains open to more improvement here.

Form: P4P/32-

Licklighter^t³⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: P G Kelly| D

4/1

Lightly raced gelding finished second of 11 beaten a head when last seen here in July. Will need to eek out a bit more in this contest.

Form: P215F/2-

Niven^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

7/1

Three time Flat winner and placed over hurdles at Wexford over 2m in October. Well held since and hard to fancy on recent evidence.

Form: 0/3245-6

Olive D'Haguenet²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: I Madden

66/1

Pulled up here earlier in the month on first start for new yard after racing in France, has the useful Mikeal D'haguenet in the family but looks moderate on what we've seen so far

Form: P

Mary Sun^h¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

25/1

Well beaten and never nearer in two starts since the turn of the year including a heavy 37L defeat at Punchestown earlier this month in a 2m maiden hurdle.

Form: P0-0

A Long Day^t¹⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Dempsey| T: M Brassil

50/1

Nothing of any note in two career maiden hurdle starts including a disastrous last of 19 beaten 173L in the process. Others preferred.

Form: 00-

Balkalin²⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D J Mullins| T: E Mullins

7/1

Beaten a total of 161L in two career maiden hurdle starts including a 120L defeat when last seen in September last year. Easily passed over.

Form: 4335/49-

Bensachuine¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 105

9/2

11-race maiden but has the scope to improve on a fifth of 18 beaten 20L on seasonal debut. Place claims not ruled out.

Form: 62/536-5

Cheap And Cheerful^t1

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

12/1

Shirocco gelding out of a Generous mare related to game types Minella Rocco and Annie Power. Market check advised in first-time tongue-tie for powerful connections.

Form:

Offshore Oscar⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara

66/1

Not much to shout about in two maiden hurdle starts - both at Thurles - beaten a total of 99L. Plenty to work on in this company.

Form: 9/00-

Punches Cross¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

2/1

Will need to show plenty of improvement on two below-par bumper efforts at Punchestown towards the end of the year and a 12L defeat on hurdling debut at Clonmel earlier this month.

Form: 47-4

Scorpion Knight¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: A E Lynch| T: P A Fahy

33/1

Beaten over 120L in a Punchestown bumper in October before a disappointing maiden hurdle debut at Clonmel earlier this month. Looks opposable.

Form: 9-7

Lady Quill^h,t²³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: I J McCarthy| T: N Lawlor| OR: 81

33/1

Slight improvement when last seen in a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle in October finishing third of 16 over 2m4f. Hard to fancy dropping in trip and previous form evidence.

Form: 5057/83-

Little Gold²²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley

50/1

Daughter of Gold Well out of a Carroll House mare related to solid types Holywell, Johns Spirit and Irish Grand National winner General Principle. Market likely to be the best guide here.

Form: 0-

Mrs Conn²⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: T Cleary

50/1

Maiden after 14 starts on the Flat but well below what is needed in two maiden hurdle starts last season. Looks up against it here on return.

Form: 50-

Non-Runners

Valley Sunset

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: D Hogan J: Reserve 1

Makeyourcall²²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: E Cawley J: Reserve 2

Gaillimh Abu²⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: P G Kelly J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Punches Cross (2/1), Licklighter (4/1), Bensachuine (9/2), Niven (7/1), Balkalin (7/1), Cheap And Cheerful (12/1), Hurricane Volta (16/1), Mary Sun (25/1), Lady Quill (33/1), Valley Sunset (33/1), Makeyourcall (33/1), Gaillimh Abu (33/1), Scorpion Knight (33/1), Mrs Conn (50/1), Little Gold (50/1), A Long Day (50/1), Offshore Oscar (66/1), Olive D'Haguenet (66/1)

The Gordon Elliott-trained HURRICANE VOLTA showed plenty of improvement on his last start at Tramore last month to anticipate further progress here in this company. Licklighter, who may need the run here and the Denis Hogan-trained Bensachuine who is likely to improve on his run at Killarney earlier this month, can hit the frame here.