Ballinrobe 25/05/09

On the racing front, there was a note of caution about the well received EasiFix hurdles. There were few fallers in the hurdles over the two days, but three horses in contention took crashing falls at the final two flights, two fatally and one with a serious injury. It is rash to judge on such little evidence, but the first impression was that when the horse is flat out and gets it wrong, the lack of give in the hurdle itself makes for a crashing fall.

The field for race four approach the first fence

Going: Soft

Race 1: Connacht Telegraph Median Auction Maiden [1m 1f]

1: La Tizona     2: Calle Aneto     3: Pittori

Winner owned: Damian Lavelle, trained: David Marnane, ridden: C O'Donoghue

Three flat races were accidentally observed at the beginning of the meeting. Favourite Pittori ran a lacklustre race, as did the well backed Mosstown, to allow the win to fall in the lap of the exposed La Tizona.

Race 2: Treacys Pharmacies Handicap [1m 1f]

1: Coral Creek     2: Rue De Cabestan     3: Imperial Belle

Winner owned: MC Grassick, trained: MJ Grassick, ridden: DE Mullins

Boasting a good course record, Coral Creek improved it further with smooth progress from midfield in the last three furlongs. The first trio were well clear, but Imperial Belle's strong finish was ended by an inexplicable attempt to dive into a non-existant gap between Rue De Cabestan and the rails.

Race 3: Eamon Sheridan Groundworks & Plant Hire Handicap [1m 1f]

1: Bentesina     2: Hamalka     3: Quench The Flame

Winner owned: Lads Syndicate, trained: Aidan Howard, ridden: NG McCullagh

With Hamalka looking to have put his nose in front on the line, it was a bit of a surprise to the crowd when Bentesina was called the winner, the photo showing that the margin was about 5 millimetres.

Race 4: Mulholland Bookmakers Handicap Chase [2m 1f]

1: Rossberry Lad     2: Strylea     3: Rince Donn

Winner owned: Silent Lads Syndicate, trained: Francis Flood, ridden: MP Walsh

This race appeared to be in the bag for Rossberry Lad two out, but he made a right old mess of the last, prompting a good jockey recovery, followed by rapidly getting back on an even keel and running hard for the line, which was enough to kill off Strylea's chances. Rince Donn's form had been upheld by Flying Paragan a day earlier, and he ran quite well, but not good enough. Consistency does not appear to be one of his strengths. 

Rossberry Lad wins without magnaminity

Race 5: ITBA (Western Region) mares' Handicap Hurdle [2m 4f]

1: Cara Mara     2: Canitellyou     3: Princess Nicole

Winner owned: Sherwood Syndicate, trained: JA Berry, ridden: Richie Moran

A rash of non-runners hardly made this any easier to predict, and the winner, Cara Mara is herself a little inclined to a multiple personality disorder - each of her characters being at opposite ends of the good and evil spectrum. Good Cara was on parade today, outstaying Canitellyou, Princess Nicole and Seepeeoh, all of which are little more reliable than Cara Mara. 

Cara Mara out-staggers Canitellyou, with Princess Nicole and long time leader Seepeeoh pay their respects

Race 6: Ballinrobe Tool & Plant Hire Maiden Hurdle [2m 4f]

1: Fionnegas     2: Listening     3: West Ship Master

Winner owned: E Duignan, trained: Willie Mullins, ridden: David Casey

The race was marred when One To Many fell fatally two out, leaving Fionnegas well clear in a race that he looked set to win anyway. The success took his career total to three out of three. Before the race the third favourite was priced at 25/1 and upwards, which meant that some runners were worthy of watching for each-way purposes. Based on his Killarney debut, Listening was not one of them, and although he was not given a hard time chasing the winner, he did see off the rest without being bottomed out. Ex-pointer West Ship Master was one of the intriguing runs, and he was third in a field that ended up quite strung out.

Race 7: FBD Insurance Flat Race [2m]

1: Baile Ui Cholmain     2: Primroseandblue     3: Harry Hatman

Winner owned: FT Burke, trained: Gordon Elliott, ridden: Mr AT Duff

Having been green in the paddock, or perhaps just objecting to the Marquee Bar band's loud rendition of 'Proud Mary,' Baile Ui Cholmain seemed a vulnerable contender in his racing debut, but he coped with a delayed start and came out on top in a race where the field were strung out like a long distance chase in bottomless ground. After a promising Punchestown debut, in which he was defeated but narrowly, Primroseandblue did not appear to progress at all, and only edged out Harry Hatman for second very narrowly.

Plus Points

Strylea (race 4): Despite limited promise in her earlier chases, she ended up with top weight in this, but really ran quite well. The key seems to be to keep her at a low level.

Musical Melody (race 6): Had one or two fair runs before a flop last time, and did not appear to be off today.

Baile Ui Cholmain (race 7): Overcame an array of negatives to make a winning debut and ought to be up to better in future.

Dancing Jack (race 7): Showed glimpses of promise in points, but this was a waste of time. He was slightly slowly away, trailed the field until a few in front pulled up and then cantered in tailed off. Surely capable of better, as he has probably expended more energy in a single yawn than was seen here.

Down Arrows

Chasers Chance (race 4): A well backed favourite, he was niggled with six furlongs to run and the only thing to make a case for his defence is that he was not punished when it was clear that it was not his day.

Maid Of Malabar (race 5): Stood out in the paddock, but ran far below her looks.

Lavendar Lily (race 5): Made dangerous looking progress from the fourth last, but the effort petered out a bit tamely in the last quarter of a mile.

The Next Hall (race 6): Was noted travelling well at the rear when the field split into two groups, but when an effort was asked for, signs of a response were not very apparent.