19:50 Ballinrobe

Tuesday 24 July 2018

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

McGrath Limestone Works Ltd. Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 5m 26.00s

Deor⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J E Kiely| OR: 118

9/2

Won on debut in a Cork maiden hurdle 12-months ago but has been well held since and may struggle once again in this contest.

Form: 14800-8

Fearachain¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Mullins| T: A Mullins| OR: 117

16/1

Lightly raced, finished second last beaten 33L in a Downpatrick hurdle on return to the track following a break of over two years. Opposable on second start back.

Form: 26842/6

All's Quiet^t⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 116| BF| C

4/1

Beaten favourite last time out in a Sligo handicap hurdle earlier this month when third of eight beaten over 3L. Likable type who should be in the mix.

Form: 00-6033

Small World^b1³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 114| D

13/2

Distance winner of a Downpatrick handicap hurdle in August last year off a 9lb lower mark. Poor form in two starts this season and not one to fully trust this term in first-time blinkers.

Form: 1216-0P

Pi Ahio²³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H Rogers| OR: 109

12/1

Chase winner in France last year. Cost £32,000 at the Cheltenham sales in December. Market likely to reveal expectations on stable debut.

Form: 9/5115F-

Padraic O Conaire^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: B J Cooper| T: Mrs Y Dunleavy| OR: 99

11/8

The manner of his two wins recently at Listowel and earlier this month at Sligo gave the impression the six-year-old should be able to handle the step up in trip and enters calculations here.

Form: 85-7141

Freedom Statue²⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S J Mahon| OR: 97| C

16/1

Won just one of 17 hurdle races, a maiden last September. Handicap mark has been gradually sliding but not seen enough to suggest latest drop will make her competitive.

Form: 370469-

Non-Runners

Odit⁶¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: M Butler J: C A Landers

Touch Base¹¹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Mark Walsh

Old Castletown⁴⁰⁴

Weight: 10-2| Age: 9

T: T M Walsh J: M A Enright

Forecasts

Padraic O Conaire (11/8), Touch Base (2/1), All's Quiet (4/1), Deor (9/2), Small World (13/2), Pi Ahio (12/1), Old Castletown (12/1), Fearachain (16/1), Freedom Statue (16/1), Odit (20/1)

A handicap hurdle where it may be left to a couple in fine form with the Gordon Elliott-trained TOUCH BASE, who stayed on strongly under pressure at Downpatrick earlier this month, taken to get the better of potential improver Padraic O Conaire who comes here on the back of a 1L win at Sligo. All's Quiet, Small World in first-time blinkers and newcomer Pi Ahio can battle for the minor honours.