18:00 Ballinrobe

Friday 12 April 2019

All16:5017:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

McGrath Limestone Works Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:00 | Winning time: 4m 20.50s

Ballyneety^t⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 127

4/1

Bought for €65,000 as a three-year-old for leading connections. Off the mark at the second time of asking in November at Gowran Park in a 2m maiden. Beaten but not disgraced in a couple of starts in January. Leading player.

Form: 3-1523

Charlie Stout^t⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 126

20/1

Has mixed Flat, hurdles and chases in four starts since September, disappointing in all three disciplines. Looks vulnerable on return to timber off current mark.

Form: 863-096

Morga⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: D McDonogh| OR: 126| C

20/1

Has a win and a place to her name at this venue. Not much to shout about in three of her four seasonal starts over hurdles since November. Appears to need some relief from the handicapper.

Form: 65-3700

Bolbec²⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A Fleming| OR: 123

16/1

Dual winner in France before being the subject of a purchase by owner Barry Connell. Off the mark at the third time of asking for connections when winning a Cork maiden hurdle when last seen in July. Worth a market check.

Form: 871

Contingency⁴¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123| BF

6/1

Made a promising return from a break when finishing third of 18 beaten 8L behind Alletrix in a Leopardstown handicap hurdle before a slightly disappointing run at Naas when last seen in February. Improvement would come as no surprise.

Form: 1134-

Getoutwhenyoucan^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: J S McGarvey| T: A Leahy| OR: 123| C

33/1

Struggled of late off his new mark following a win at Limerick in December. One of three in the race for leading owner and possibly the least likely to trouble the judge.

Form: 1P34-3P

Ballyegan Hero²³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 121

40/1

Gelding by Oscar who produced a number of laboured runs over the larger obstacles in a summer jumping campaign last year. Last win over timber came at Galway in August 2017 off a similar mark. Best watched following seven month break.

Form: 70-85UF

Ejayteekay²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: D F O'Regan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 118

7/1

Has won three of her 10 starts over hurdles this season including a 1½L success in a Navan handicap hurdle last month on soft ground off a 6lb lower mark. Entitled to make the shortlist for Champion hurdling winning yard.

Form: 344631

Masterstonemason^p³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: F Costello| OR: 116

50/1

Finished 41L behind Champion hurdle winner Espoir D'Allen at Limerick Christmas festival before another disappointing effort at Naas last month. Looks up against it here.

Form: 2-07040

Sole Pretender^h1¹⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Kennedy| T: N Lee| OR: 116| C

5/1

Winner of two of his two national hunt starts including a maiden hurdle win at Clonmel in October. Looks an improving sort and is not one to totally leave out of calculations in first time hood.

Form: 1412

La Sorelita^t³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 124

11/4

A winner in France and put up a fair effort in defeat on yard debut in Grade 2 class at Leopardstown on yard debut. Has only disappointed connections at a lower level since. Not disgraced in the Fred Winter at the festival. One to watch.

Form: 134340

Reach Up^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 112| BF| CD

7/1

Sole win over hurdles in seven starts came over C&D 12 months ago landing a maiden hurdle in facile fashion from the J P McManus-owned It's Only A Number and Gordon Elliott's Crezic. Not easy to discount.

Form: 83F143

Non-Runners

Prospectus²⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: G P Cromwell J: J M Moore

Gran Geste³³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: Miss E Doyle J: N P Madden

Forecasts

La Sorelita (11/4), Ballyneety (4/1), Sole Pretender (5/1), Contingency (6/1), Ejayteekay (7/1), Reach Up (7/1), Prospectus (14/1), Bolbec (16/1), Morga (20/1), Charlie Stout (20/1), Gran Geste (25/1), Getoutwhenyoucan (33/1), Ballyegan Hero (40/1), Masterstonemason (50/1)

The J P McManus-owned BALLYNEETY wouldn't have to improve much on his five solid and consistent starts this season to land the spoils in this contest. The Milan gelding is one of three in the contest for the owner, but can see off the expected challenge from the likes of Ejayteekay from the Champion hurdle winning yard and the Barry Connell-owned Bolbec who won on his latest start in July.