19:45 Ballinrobe

Tuesday 25 May 2021

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase (Grade B)

Off time: 19:46 | Winning time: 6m 16.50s

1^st

Agent Boru

1010-3

12/1

T: T GibneyJ: Phillip Enright

Mid-division, 6th halfway, headway into 3rd 3 out, ridden after next and challenged at last, under pressure and led 100 yards out, kept on well op 11/1 tchd 10/1

2^nd

1 ¼

The Dabbler

89-12

10/1

T: L P CusackJ: C J Orr (3)

Held up towards rear, some headway when slight mistake 4 out, 5th 3 out, headway to lead before next, strongly pressed last, ridden and headed run-in, no impression on winner closing stages op 14/1

3^rd

2 ¾

Western Victory

811-8

12/1

T: D QueallyJ: Shane Fitzgerald (7)

Tracked leader in 2nd and clear of remainder from 3rd, led 5 out, pushed along and headed approaching 2 out, close 4th when slight mistake last, no impression run-in, kept on one pace

4^th

Dromore Lad

910-13

14/1

T: J P RyanJ: Danny Mullins

Chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway 3 out and soon pushed along, 2nd and ridden after 2 out, no extra run-in op 12/1

5^th

Popong

711-3

5/2f

T: H De BromheadJ: Rachael Blackmore

Mid-division, headway into 3rd approaching 5 out, 2nd 3 out and soon pushed along, 5th and no impression next, no extra when mistake last op 11/4

6^th

Shady Operator

811-10

7/2

T: E BolgerJ: Mike O'Connor (7)

Led and clear with one rival from 3rd, slight mistake 6th, headed 5 out, no extra after 3 out, soon weakened op 4/1

Also Ran

Alpha Des Obeaux

1111-10

33/1

T: Mrs D FosterJ: Jordan Gainford (7)

Soon towards rear, never a factor, no impression approaching 5 out, soon no extra, well behind when pulled up before 2 out op 28/1

Castlebrook

811-7

16/1

T: J J ManganJ: Mr D O'Connor

Chased leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and no impression in 8th after 4 out, soon no extra, behind and pulled up before 2 out tchd 18/1

Fitzhenry

911-3

16/1

T: P NolanJ: Mark Walsh

Always towards rear, never a factor, reminders and no impression approaching 5 out, soon no extra and pulled up before 4 out

Auvergnat

1110-13

40/1

T: E BolgerJ: Darragh O'Keeffe

Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, mistake 10th, pushed along and no extra after 4 out, weakened, behind and pulled up before 2 out op 50/1

Dounikos

1010-12

25/1

T: Mrs D FosterJ: B J Cooper

Rear of mid-division, never a factor, towards rear 9th, pushed along and no impression after 4 out, no extra, behind and pulled up before 2 out op 28/1

Optical Confusion

910-8

11/2

T: M ButlerJ: J J Slevin

Towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 6th op 9/2 tchd 6/1

Definite Soldier

129-12

20/1

T: J A KinsellaJ: A W Short

Mid-division, dropped towards rear approaching 5 out, soon pushed along and no extra, behind and pulled up before 2 out op 18/1

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Non-Runners

Contingency²⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: W P Mullins J: Danny Mullins

Konitho¹⁸⁴

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: J P O'Brien J: J S McGarvey

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:€12.90Pl:€3.70, €3.30, €2.90EX:€133.90Trifecta:€0.00Tricast:€1,494.06SF:€123.85

Forecasts

Popong (5/2), Shady Operator (7/2), Optical Confusion (11/2), The Dabbler (10/1), Konitho (10/1), Agent Boru (12/1), Western Victory (12/1), Contingency (12/1), Dromore Lad (14/1), Fitzhenry (16/1), Castlebrook (16/1), Definite Soldier (20/1), Dounikos (25/1), Alpha Des Obeaux (33/1), Auvergnat (40/1)

A deserved success awaits POPONG, who may well have won had she remained on all fours at Leopardstown on Boxing Day (going well when falling at the last) and she encountered traffic problems at a crucial stage when third at the Punchestown Festival. Shady Operator, who produced much his best effort to date at Killarney 15 days ago, and hat-trick seeker Optical Confusion rate the main dangers.

POPONG (IRE)
SHADY OPERATOR (IRE)
OPTICAL CONFUSION (IRE)

Previous Winners

2020

Doctor Duffy

Weight: 11-3 |Age: 7

J: K J Brouder | T: C Byrnes

6/1

Prize Money

1st: €24,000.002nd: €8,000.003rd: €4,000.004th: €2,000.005th: €1,200.006th: €800.00