18:30 Ballinrobe

Tuesday 29 May 2018

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

McHale Coranna Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 5m 12.40s

Ancient Sands⁵³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: J E Kiely| OR: 135| C

25/1

Fell at the first on his last spin over hurdles at the Galway festival but overall solid over timber and looks to have had a tidy little pipe-opener at Dundalk last month.

Form: 074/3F5-

Carrig Cathal^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 135| CD

12/1

C&D winner last month beating eight rivals when pushed clear under hands and heels to win by over 2L in a Punchestown handicap hurdle off a 6lb lower mark. Entitled to make the shortlist here.

Form: U0P100-

Plinth^p,t²⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 135| C| D

12/1

Course winner that has also won over the distance but has generally struggled in four handicap hurdle spins since winning a Grade 3 Tipperary contest in July over 2m. Third of 12 in this race last year and handicapper relents a little here.

Form: 318587-

Boherbuoy¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N P Madden| T: N Madden| OR: 132

10/1

Promising display in a Killarney handicap hurdle earlier this month finishing second of 14 beaten 1¾L behind the improving Neverushacon. More progress possibly but up in trip could be a negative.

Form: 1530-2

True Self¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 131

11/2

Winner over an extended 2m at Punchestown last month off a 8lb lower mark and well beaten since at Killarney. Market likely to be the best guide here for leading yard.

Form: 124F1-7

Colla Pier¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: D P Dunne| OR: 125| D

33/1

Distance winner in a Down Royal chase last June and last seen winning over hurdles at Plumpton in September 2016 off a 1lb higher mark. Races off a good mark but this is a competitive event.

Form: 540/31P-

Caltex^p1⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 124

9/1

Failed to build on a promising win at Limerick in March when finding nothing under pressure in a Fairyhouse novice handicap hurdle over 2m4f last month. Acts on the ground and can go well in this company.

Form: 3/42216-

Cassells Rock^t⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 123| D

33/1

Has only once tried this trip when a one-paced seventh here last summer, winner over just short of 2m on the Flat last August. Tough ask on return and others preferred.

Form: 35688/7-

Ibsen^p,t¹⁸⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 122

25/1

Off the track for over a year before returning with a win on the Flat at Tipperary in August. Highly tried hurdling comeback in the Grade 3 Stayers hurdle at Haydock in November when beaten 51L. Not ruled out but below-par displays to shake off.

Form: 20042/0-

Bargy Lady^h¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 121

9/1

Will have disappointed connection with three dismal displays since last month including when well beaten on each occasion. Not easily written off but needs to bounce back.

Form: 214/P0-0

Art Of Security¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 120

7/1

Lightly-raced on the Flat, winning a 1m5f Navan maiden in October before a promising third of 10 beaten 2L on return to the track earlier this month in a Killarney handicap over 2m1f. Market likely to reveal expectations.

Form: 70/7050-

The Mulcare Rover⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Walsh| OR: 119| D

14/1

Acts on the ground and over this trip but finds himself still 6lb higher than last handicap hurdle win in May 2016. May struggle off these terms.

Form: 18/840-8

All's Quiet^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 117| C

8/1

Distance winner but out of form on two hurdle starts towards the end of the year and consequently has shown nothing in two hurdle starts this year. May struggle off current mark.

Form: 91600-6

Theophilus^b³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: A E Lynch| T: D McDonogh| OR: 113

33/1

Unable to halt alarming slide in form in his last four handicap hurdle starts and difficult to construct a case for him in this company.

Form: 570987-

Cluan Dara²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: J P Ryan| OR: 109

12/1

Well beaten earlier this month in a Sligo novice hurdle but showed plenty of spark when winning a Fairyhouse maiden over 2m7f in April a head in front of Hugo 'N Taz. Each way claims at best.

Form: 48F31-4

Roxboro Road²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: L P Dempsey| T: T M Walsh| OR: 107| C

13/2

Won here over 2m1f earlier this month off a 9lb lower mark beating 15 rivals 1L. Rise in the weights for that win looks a little harsh and may find things tough here.

Form: 077-1

Forecasts

True Self (11/2), Roxboro Road (13/2), Art Of Security (7/1), All's Quiet (8/1), Bargy Lady (9/1), Caltex (9/1), Boherbuoy (10/1), Cluan Dara (12/1), Plinth (12/1), Carrig Cathal (12/1), The Mulcare Rover (14/1), Ibsen (25/1), Ancient Sands (25/1), Theophilus (33/1), Cassells Rock (33/1), Colla Pier (33/1)

Leading trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have two runners who could be overpriced here. The five-year-old TRUE SELF is better than her last run at Killarney earlier this month and could appreciate the step up in trip here while Caltex in first-time cheekpieces and the Dubawi gelding Ibsen is back on a handy mark. The J P McManus-owned Boherbuoy and Roxboro Road are entitled to be respected in this company.