19:10 Ballinrobe

Tuesday 7 May 2019

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

FBD Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 19:10 | Winning time: 5m 41.10s

Classic Concorde¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁴⁾| T: A McNamara| OR: 95

5/1

Eight race maiden over hurdles but comes here following a couple of encouraging efforts since March hitting the frame on both occasions at Limerick and Kilbeggan. One for the shortlist.

Form: UF0633-

Global Racing^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J B Kane⁽²⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 95| BF

9/2

Winner of one of his 13 starts over timber. His win in a Punchestown handicap hurdle off a 9lb lower mark in January puts the Hard Spun gelding firmly in the mix here.

Form: 13426-5

Oskar High^p1⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁴⁾| T: N Lee| OR: 93

9/2

Ran well to finish fourth of 13 beaten 9L following a lay-off of 185 days at Sligo last month. Sports cheekpieces for the first time and worthy of consideration if stepping up from first run.

Form: U2083-4

Classic Escape²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁴⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 92| BF

7/1

Modest point-to-point forms and has not achieved anything better under rules. Not disgraced on latest start at Limerick last month as beaten favourite but needs to start improving sooner rather than later.

Form: 006005-

Darling Miss^p1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: K Brogan⁽⁴⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 90

14/1

Scorpion gelding out of an Alphabatim mare. Modest placed form in point-to-points and has been well held in five hurdle starts. First time cheekpieces unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 30803P-

Harley B^b1⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: A W Short| T: N Meade| OR: 88

12/1

Arakan gelding is a half-brother to two winners over obstacles from 2m-3m1f. Well held in four starts so far and likely one or two of these are more progressive at this stage. Sports first-time blinkers.

Form: 0790-

Gotta Getaway^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁴⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 87

25/1

Well held in a couple of bumper starts before being sent off at odds of 100/1 on each of her three hurdle starts last month, running appropriately on each occasion.

Form: 78900-

Merry At Heart³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D J McInerney| T: M Winters| OR: 87

8/1

By Mahler out of a Broken Hearted mare. Sister to genuine hurdler and decent chaser Ornua. Overall record in three maiden hurdle starts since February cast doubt on her ability to get competitive.

Form: 006-

Robin Gold²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brassil⁽²⁾| T: J Fogarty| OR: 87

25/1

Failed to finish in three point-to-points and well held in three starts over hurdles. Likely to be of more interest now eligible for handicaps but this looks a tough debut.

Form: F/PP008-

Elusive Don^t¹¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁴⁾| T: D Budds| OR: 95

20/1

Poor 46-rated handicapper on the Flat and has been generally well held on each of his three hurdle efforts to date. Last seen in January finishing 16th of 22 at Punchestown and likely to need more time.

Form: 550-

Captain Doran^b,t⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: K J Brouder⁽⁴⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 85

22/1

Well down the field in a number of dismal starts to date. 100/1 chance in five maiden hurdles so far and hasn't finished within hailing distance of those that mattered. Still looking no nearer to a breakthrough success.

Form: 900000-

Dragon Queen⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁴⁾| T: M Flannery| OR: 84

28/1

Plenty to prove at the moment following a number of poor efforts over timber in a futile summer jumping campaign and on return to action when ninth of 13 beaten over 17L in a Sligo handicap hurdle last month. Others preferred.

Form: 0006-9

Taggle Og^h,t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: E O'Connell⁽⁴⁾| T: E O'Connell| OR: 84

11/1

12-race maiden over hurdles but has been running well in defeat in a couple of efforts at Wexford last month. Now running 4lb below original handicap mark and still hard to make a case for.

Form: 0774P5-

Our Girl Naoise^t1²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: C J Orr⁽²⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 83

25/1

Eight race maiden over hurdles. Not seen for nearly four years when suffering heavy defeats at Thurles and Limerick following a return to the track in March. Impossible to fancy against these rivals.

Form: 3584/P0-

Miss Mcilroy^p,t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: A J Flaherty⁽⁴⁾| T: G T Lynch| OR: 80

25/1

Genuine sort who ran well in defeat over 2m2½f at Clonmel in March finishing third of 17. Well beaten since over longer trips and the 27-race maiden hurdler may be in for another tough time over todays distance.

Form: P653B0-

Railway Muice⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: C A Landers| T: P W Flynn| OR: 80

10/1

Third Reserve: Improved on a disappointing run at Thurles when finishing third of 17 beaten 12½L in a Punchestown handicap hurdle before disappointing once again at Fairyhouse in February.

Form: F9P038-

Non-Runners

Ask Dee¹⁹¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: P W Flynn J: T N Brett

Pino Boy¹¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: Mrs A Mooney J: Reserve 1

The Broom Squire¹⁵⁹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Oskar High (9/2), Global Racing (9/2), Classic Concorde (5/1), Classic Escape (7/1), Merry At Heart (8/1), Railway Muice (10/1), Taggle Og (11/1), Harley B (12/1), Darling Miss (14/1), Elusive Don (20/1), Ask Dee (20/1), Captain Doran (22/1), Robin Gold (25/1), Gotta Getaway (25/1), Our Girl Naoise (25/1), Miss Mcilroy (25/1), Dragon Queen (28/1), The Broom Squire (33/1), Pino Boy (33/1)

The Champion hurdle winning yard of Gavin Cromwell can land the spoils here with GLOBAL RACING who can revive the form the Hard Spun gelding was showing around the turn of the year in a number of runs at Punchestown and Fairyhouse. The six-year-old may have plenty of challengers in a wide open contest in the shape of Oskar High for the Norman Lee yard and the Denis Hogan-trained Classic Escape.