17:45 Ballinrobe

Monday 10 August 2020

All16:4017:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Yupana Inc California Handicap Hurdle (80-95) (Div 1)

Off time: 17:46 | Winning time: 4m 1.0s

Acclamatio^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 95

4/1

Solid enough performer on the Flat and also running respectably over hurdles, including when fourth at Bellewstown (2m) a month ago. Should be thereabouts off current mark again and 7lb claim is valuable.

Form: 00500/4

Take A Punt¹⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 95

10/1

Well-held in four maiden hurdle starts and looked to be up against it in this sphere before intriguing sixth in Clonmel handicap hurdle in February (2m). Some place claims if replicating that.

Form: 3050/06-

Ladymorata¹⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: L P Dempsey| T: A McNamara| OR: 94

33/1

Mixed it with some of the best in maiden hurdle company and was quietly fancied to go well on handicap bow, but could only finish 11th at Thurles (2m) in February. Needs to prove her worth now.

Form: 0/800-

Derby De Thaix^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: K J Brouder| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 91| D

4/1

Posted some good efforts in defeat over C&D in the past and bounced back when 5L fourth over 2m1f here last month. Goes off the same mark and is on the shortlist.

Form: P630-04

Divine Approach³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J S McGarvey| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 88

16/1

Useful handicapper on the Flat for Michael O'Callaghan but not making an impact over hurdles, including 33L defeat at Bellewstown (2m) last month. Makes handicap bow with plenty to find.

Form: 0P0-0

Heliers Bay²²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 88

5/1

Only modest improvements with each start to date and took a backward step when pulling up at Limerick (2m3f) over the Christmas period. Absent since and has a tough ask.

Form: 7/06P-

Sao Paulo⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: M Hourigan| OR: 88

33/1

Underwhelming in both hurdle efforts this season, including 27L tenth at Thurles (2m) back in March. Poor on comeback on the Flat so needs to prove plenty now.

Form: 9/P00-

Badness Backfires³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 86

16/1

Sans Frontieres gelding. Rank outsider for past three starts and running accordingly. Latest 36L ninth at Bellewstown (2m) means he looks to be up against it.

Form: P/09-9

Yeat's Encore^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Mrs Y Dunleavy| OR: 85

4/1

Struggled on first couple of starts but getting the hang of things lately, registering career-best when 4L third in Kilbeggan handicap hurdle eight days ago. Only up 1lb since. Leading claims.

Form: 000-823

Last Return²²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Fahey| OR: 82

50/1

Has yet to be remotely competitive on any start on the track and hasn't been seen since pulling up at Limerick (2m) over Christmas. Needs to take massive step forward.

Form: 0/0090P-

Baby Bellini^p,t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: G P Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: I Madden| OR: 80| D

22/1

Nearly two years since he last got his head in font and struggled over fences and on the flat of late. Beaten 31L at Killarney (1m6f) last time and is hard to make a case for.

Form: 00058F-

Ceide Fields¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Phillip Enright| T: S J Mahon| OR: 80

40/1

Had been off the track for a long time but not returned in any sort of form. Registered heavy defeat in handicap hurdle at Galway last month and is readily passed over.

Form: FP0P/80

Coherent^h⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 80

10/1

Didn't fare too badly on comeback run two starts ago but didn't take necessary step forward when 16L seventh at Kilbeggan (2m) at the start of the month. Gets no respite in the handicap.

Form: 3000/67

Non-Runners

Molten Gold³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: S Aherne J: Phillip Enright

Castlehume¹¹

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: S J Mahon J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Derby De Thaix (4/1), Yeat's Encore (4/1), Acclamatio (4/1), Heliers Bay (5/1), Coherent (10/1), Take A Punt (10/1), Badness Backfires (16/1), Divine Approach (16/1), Castlehume (16/1), Baby Bellini (22/1), Sao Paulo (33/1), Ladymorata (33/1), Molten Gold (33/1), Ceide Fields (40/1), Last Return (50/1)

Promising form doesn't come in much abundance for this contest but the only who seemingly sets the form standard is the mare YEAT'S ENCORE. While she can prove to be keen, she has good course form and would've arguably been closer had she not fluffed her lines at the final flight last time. Her current mark remains workable too. The top-weight Acclamatio looks far better equipped in this sphere and a valuable 7lb is taken off his back, while the likes of Derby De Thaix and Take A Punt showed promise last time which suggested they could have the scope to step forward once more.