17:30 Ballinrobe

Tuesday 28 August 2018

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Eamon Sheridan Groundworks Handicap Hurdle (81-123)

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 3m 52.00s

Duke Cass^t²⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: K Thornton| OR: 123| D

50/1

Lightly races gelding who showed little in two defeats when last seen in November. Has work to do on return to the track.

Form: 11F4/0P-

Icario^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 121

8/1

Distance winner of a Down Royal maiden hurdle back in March getting off the mark over timber at the 17th time of asking. Beaten since but now races 2lb below last winning mark.

Form: 130-736

Masterstonemason^p³¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: F Costello| OR: 120| D

25/1

Solid and consistent form last years hitting the frame on each of his last five starts. May need the run on return from lay-off but still one to consider.

Form: 833212-

Powersbomb^t1¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: B McMahon| OR: 115| D

8/1

Last win over hurdles from 18 starts came at the Galway festival three years ago. First time tongue-tie unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 245/F-48

Highway Royal³⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 114| CD

50/1

C&D winner over two years ago. Plenty of work to do here on first start on a racecourse in over a year.

Form: 348/0U0-

Ronava⁹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: M A Enright| T: R A Cotter| OR: 113| C| D

33/1

Course winner that has also won over the trip. Seventh of 13 well beaten on return to the track in May and comes here following another lay-off. Others preferred.

Form: 740F8-7

Fiesole¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: E Doyle| OR: 112| BF| D

5/2

Winner of two of his 12 career starts over hurdles. Recent winner on the Flat at Tramore and hold a strong hand on first run over timber in over a year.

Form: 53/1212-

Hearts Are Trumps²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: D McDonogh| OR: 112| D

5/2

Put a couple of dismal performances behind him when winning a 2m½f handicap hurdle at Clonmel in May before a promising fourth of 20 beaten a little over 8L at the Galway festival earlier this month. Entitled to make the shortlist.

Form: 660-14

Lucky Icon^h1²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 116| CD

14/1

C&D winner here in May in a 10-runner contest winning by a little over 5L. Promising fourth of 11 at the Galway festival recently and holds strong place claims in first-time hood.

Form: 14

The Irregular²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 111| D

40/1

Distance winner but has been badly out of form recently suffering heavy defeats in a number of chases, hurdles and Flat starts since April. Has work to do on current form.

Form: 3590-96

Banjo¹¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: J S McGarvey| T: D Cullen| OR: 105

18/1

Looked like he may be able to win a handicap on his third here last August but went backwards after that. Even his best form would probably leave him short of what is required here.

Form: 36/370-4

Callthebarman^t⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: A E Lynch| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 107| D

8/1

Winner of a 2m Kilbeggan handicap hurdle in April off a 6lb lower mark but well held on a couple of occasions since. Market to be informative.

Form: 8P1-198

Customer^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 101

66/1

12th of 20 at the Galway festival in the gelding first start in over a year. Plenty to prove in this contest looking at exposed form.

Form: 151/9P-0

Guido Reni^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Robbie Colgan| T: K Thornton| OR: 104| D

12/1

Sole success came in a good ground handicap hurdle at Tipperary in May. Back to form latest when finishing second of 13 beaten 1½L in a Sligo handicap hurdle earlier this month. Needs to show more consistency.

Form: 00-1872

Forecasts

Hearts Are Trumps (5/2), Fiesole (5/2), Icario (8/1), Powersbomb (8/1), Callthebarman (8/1), Guido Reni (12/1), Lucky Icon (14/1), Banjo (18/1), Masterstonemason (25/1), Ronava (33/1), The Irregular (40/1), Highway Royal (50/1), Duke Cass (50/1), Customer (66/1)

121-rated ICARIO has dropped below his last winning mark and can see off his rivals here to add to his win at Down Royal in March. The Karl Thornton-trained Guido Reni can build on his second of 13 earlier this month at Sligo and last time out winner Fiesole can battle for the minor honours.