18:45 Ballinrobe

Monday 10 August 2020

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

Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 18:45 | Winning time: 5m 40.8s

Drifting Back^t¹⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 104

6/1

Looked to be coming to himself with some encouraging runs at Limerick over the winter but was beaten over 28L at Gowran (2m4f) when last seen in March. May be entitled to need this comeback run.

Form: 886357-

Creative Venture¹⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M M McDonagh⁽⁷⁾| T: M J McDonagh

125/1

€13,000 purchase as a three-year-old with some reasonable efforts in the point-to-point sphere before tame run on rules debut in bumper at Gowran (2m2f) in March. Needs more on hurdles bow.

Form: 246-

Siberian Star^p1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: P J Rothwell

12/1

Shaped okay on seasonal return at Kilbeggan in June but took backward step when 19L third over C&D last time. No match for first two that day and will be plugging on regardless.

Form: 7566-43

Cabin Hill³⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J C McConnell

12/1

Made the perfect start when winning Wexford bumper last summer but regressed since, including 11L defeat in Killarney bumper last August. Makes hurdles bow on return from nearly a year off.

Form: 136-

Happie Days⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 90

7/1

Had some remote efforts over hurdles but took marked step in right direction when runner-up in Roscommon handicap hurdle (2m4f) a week ago. Only up 1lb so looks to be bang in the mix.

Form: 8F000-2

Rippon Lodge⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D E Mullins| T: J P Ryan| OR: 91

10/1

Taken his time to come to hand but getting the hang of things lately, including career-best second in 3m1f Kilbeggan handicap hurdle at the start of the month. Claims if replicating that.

Form: 49-P942

China Princess¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 92| C

8/1

Bumper winner at this track last summer whose bumped into some smart rivals since. Can't be judged on recent early fall over C&D last time and interesting to see if she turns up in this.

Form: 0008-8F

Bull Halsey

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

12/1

Kalanisi gelding. Half-brother to useful hurdle/chase winner Gates Of Rome (2m3f), 2m4f winner Cooldine Bog and point winner Goldenbrave. From top yard so market check is advised.

Form:

Silk Worm¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 99

7/4

Bumper winner in October and generally held form well since, including 15L third over C&D last time out. Back into maiden company so does merit consideration.

Form: 16253-3

Will You Win^t¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 95

8/1

Chased home easy winner over C&D two starts ago and improved on that when beaten 3L into third at Kilbeggan (2m4f) last time out. Should be thereabouts once again in this.

Form: 009-235

Non-Runners

Breakeven¹⁶²

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: T Mullins J: D J Mullins

Forecasts

Silk Worm (7/4), Breakeven (11/4), Drifting Back (6/1), Happie Days (7/1), Will You Win (8/1), China Princess (8/1), Rippon Lodge (10/1), Siberian Star (12/1), Bull Halsey (12/1), Cabin Hill (12/1), Creative Venture (125/1)

This looks to be a good race for its level, and the one who is the seemingly least exposed in the field is BREAKEVEN. He looked to finally get his act together with some easy wins to culminate his time in the point-to-point sphere. He is related to some good types and could be the class horse of the race. Plenty possess place claims, including Happie Days, who should find this company much easier, and Will You Win, who showed good improvement to place last time. Another debutante in Bull Halsey cannot be ignored given he hails from the yard of Gordon Elliott too.