18:40 Ballinrobe

Tuesday 7 May 2019

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

BetVictor Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 18:40 | Winning time: 5m 43.7s

Acronym²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 116

8/1

Clonmel bumper winner who remains a five race maiden over hurdles but has hit the frame on a couple of occasions but distance of defeat on all starts leaves a little to be desired. Others look open to more improvement.

Form: 139083-

Castle North^t1¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins

7/4

Runner-up twice in bumpers, but went the wrong way in that sphere. Much more to like on his second start over timber in a Kilbeggan maiden last month finishing fourth of 16. Appears to be getting the hang of things. Runs in first-time tongue tie.

Form: 22/8944-

Cats For Cash¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: A Ring| T: G Elliott

9/1

Failed to build on a couple of promising bumper starts when finishing down the field as beaten favourite at Punchestown in February before a 46L defeat behind La Tektor at Fairyhouse recently.

Form: 2209-

Eltico

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S A Shortall| T: J H Black

66/1

Gelding by Gold Well out of a Witness Box mare. Best watched on debut for small yard not renowned for their winning hurdlers.

Form:

Generator City⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan

7/2

Plenty to like about two of his three starts over hurdles including finishing third of 14 beaten 5¾L defeat at Sligo last month. Starting to look a progressive type and shortlisted in this contest.

Form: P2148-3

Hell Or High Water

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade

7/1

Gelding by Robin Des Champs out of a Simply Great mare. Brother to 2m4f winning hurdler Robin Thyme. Worthy of a market check on debut for respected connections.

Form:

Summer Hill⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T N Brett⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan

7/2

Scorpion gelding sending out mixed signals in four fruitless maiden hurdle starts since February. Possibly best watched, likely to be of more interest when going in to handicaps.

Form: 593U3-5

Kate O C B⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara

66/1

Scorpion mare who was over 120L and 150L adrift of the winners on her first couple of hurdling efforts since December. One likely to improve in time.

Form: 00-

Last One¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell

20/1

Yet to fire in a number of bumper starts between December 2017 and when last seen on first start for 277 days when tailed off on return to the track finishing last of 19 beaten over 230L last month.

Form: 50/5330-

Forecasts

Castle North (7/4), Summer Hill (7/2), Generator City (7/2), Hell Or High Water (7/1), Acronym (8/1), Cats For Cash (9/1), Last One (20/1), Kate O C B (66/1), Eltico (66/1)

The Willie Mullins-trained CASTLE NORTH can get off the mark at the seventh time of asking for his handler building on a solid fourth of 16 in a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle last month. Conditions look ideal for the Stowaway gelding to see off the attentions of a couple of highly promising six-year-olds in Acronym and Generator City.