18:30 Ballinrobe

Tuesday 28 May 2019

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

McHale Mayo Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:31 | Winning time: 4m 49.40s

Swamp Fox^b²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: D N Russell| T: J G Murphy| OR: 144| CD

12/1

Winner of four of his hurdle starts including a C&D victory on his only attempt at the combination in this contest two years ago off a 10lb lower mark. Needs to recover that form here.

Form: 4370/5-0

Sole Pretender^h³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: N Lee| OR: 137| C| D

5/1

Course winner that has also won over the trip. Comes here in flying form following wins here and at Wexford both earlier this month. Shaped recently like step up in trip would suit.

Form: 141211-

Lone Wolf^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R M Power| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 133| BF

5/1

Winner on his second hurdle start at Fairyhouse in a 20-runner maiden in December. Well held in Grade 1 company before being brought down when still in contention in a Killarney handicap hurdle recently. Leading claims.

Form: 531/15-B

Chavi Artist¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 128

12/1

Off the mark over hurdles for connections at the fifth time of asking when landing a Fairyhouse maiden in February. Beaten, but not disgraced in a couple of runs since and capable of a big run once again.

Form: 5331-44

Crossed My Mind³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: N P Madden| T: A L T Moore| OR: 128

16/1

Bounced back to form to land his second hurdle win in nine at Cork last month beating 10-rivals off a 7lb lower mark. Life more difficult under a penalty but very much a leading player here.

Form: 6/P4U21-

Awayinthewest⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 127| C

33/1

In fine form last year running in a number of mares' contests but found the step up Grade 3 level at Fairyhouse in January. Well held in three subsequent starts and others look more convincing.

Form: 327008-

Cosmo's Moon²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 125

8/1

Pleased connections when getting off the mark at the seventh attempt over hurdles when winning a 2m3f maiden contest at Limerick last month before another bold show to finish second of 12 at Punchestown. Holds leading claims.

Form: 35/251-2

Dorans River^p1,t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 125| D

33/1

Second of 12 her over 2m6f looks a little of a one-off compared to overall efforts produced. Drop in trip and first time cheekpieces inconceivable to produce the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: PP002-0

Getaway Katie Mai¹⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: J Queally| OR: 123| C

7/1

Plenty to like about her second of 11 beaten 1¾L in a Galway maiden hurdle in October before the Getaway mare won her maiden at Tramore when last seen in December. Makes handicap debut here and any market support could be significant.

Form: 2121/21-

Silver Star^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 122

14/1

Winner of two of his 24 starts over hurdles, second of those victories coming in a Downpatrick hurdle over 2m3f in October. Well held in three disappointing efforts since February and appears to need some relief from the handicapper.

Form: 130F8-6

Roxboro Road^b³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: L P Dempsey| T: T M Walsh| OR: 121| C| D

12/1

Oscar gelding who is a course winner and has also won over this trip, comes here on a hat-trick following victories at Leopardstown over fences and at Fairyhouse off a 14lb lower mark last month. Tough ask off revised rating.

Form: 844311-

Eoline Jolie^t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 120

20/1

Will have disappointed connections following a number of dismal efforts since joining the yard 12 months and six starts ago. Still looking no nearer to breakthrough success.

Form: 68/406-0

Waterville Dancer¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: K J Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 119

9/2

Solid and consistent hurdler winner of one of his six starts over timber and hitting the frame on a further three occasions. Will look to build on a fine second at Killarney earlier this month off a 4lb lower mark.

Form: 50/312-2

Lizzies Champ^t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: P G Kelly| OR: 117| D

40/1

Still going well in a Kilarney 2m6f handicap hurdle before falling three out in August before pulling up following a 230-day break here over 2m6f last month when dropping to rear quickly. Well-being can only be taken on trust.

Form: P/221FP-

Lethal Steps¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

12/1

102-rated Flat handicapper when in the care of trainer-Andrew Balding. Off the mark over hurdles at the eighth time of asking at Sligo last month before a solid run in novice company recently. Solid and consistent sort whom should go well again.

Form: 0323-13

Masterstonemason^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Phillip Enright| T: F Costello| OR: 116

33/1

First Reserve: Only career win in 13 starts came in minor hurdles event at Gowran Park all the way back in 2017. Unlikely to make an impact if making the line-up.

Form: 70404-0

Non-Runners

Dromore Lad²⁶

Weight: 10-11| Age: 7

T: D A McLoughlin J: J B Kane

Bridge Native¹¹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 8

T: Mrs D A Love J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Waterville Dancer (9/2), Sole Pretender (5/1), Lone Wolf (5/1), Getaway Katie Mai (7/1), Cosmo's Moon (8/1), Lethal Steps (12/1), Roxboro Road (12/1), Chavi Artist (12/1), Dromore Lad (12/1), Swamp Fox (12/1), Silver Star (14/1), Crossed My Mind (16/1), Eoline Jolie (20/1), Bridge Native (20/1), Awayinthewest (33/1), Dorans River (33/1), Masterstonemason (33/1), Lizzies Champ (40/1)

GETAWAY KATIE MAI can win on handicap debut here for owner J P McManus. The six-year-old mare can build on impressive bumper and maiden hurdle wins on her return to action at the expense of Sole Pretender, Lone Wolf and the Noel Meade-trained, Cosmo's Moon. In a wide-open contest Charles Byrnes' Waterville Dancer and Lethal Steps for trainer Gordon Elliott are not easily dismissed.