Friday 8 May 2026 Ballinrobe

Off the mark in ordinary Bellewstown claimer three days ago; 7lb penalty for that and more on her plate back in a handicap but she won well last time and could be further improvement forthcoming; well drawn.

From a fine family but didn't show a whole lot in two Dundalk maidens earlier this year; now drops to claiming company in first-time cheekpieces; more needed.

Beaten 12.5l on debut in a 1m Leopardstown maiden; was 8.75l behind the winner in a 7f Limerick maiden (yielding) latest; not sure this longer trip will suit on pedigree; others preferred.

One of three for yard; has shown ability in both starts; beaten 11.5l when fifth of 10 on debut at Gowran last October; midfield on seasonal return at Navan; sharper for that and place shout if building on it.

Improved effort on second start at Gowran (1m, soft) last month but was still beaten 11.5l; not bred for this longer trip and others make more appeal.

AW form over the winter didn't amount to much and last of 10 (never recovering from slow start) in Ballinrobe claimer earlier this month on turf debut; hard to make a case for.

Best run for Stephen Thorne a 2l fourth of 14 in a Down Royal nursery last September off 61; soundly beaten in three runs for this stable; others look more convincing.

Rated 69; placed twice in turf maidens at Roscommon last year; in okay form on AW when last seen earlier this year; gelded since and new headgear combination goes on; not straightforward but best treated by race conditions and the one to beat if ready after break.

One of two for yard; sprang a surprise in three-runner rated race at Dundalk (6f) in February; well beaten twice since, including in 1m Gowran claimer latest on turf debut; needs to get back on track.

Modest handicap form and when fifth in 9.5f claimer at Ballinrobe; doubt that 1m4f will be the answer; 2lb wrong.

Okay effort when midfield on debut at Navan (1m2f, heavy); didn't back it up there second time out; much more needed, though heavy rain would boost his claims.

Slowly away from the gates both starts at Navan and Gowran; may need a bit more time and experience.

Best effort in two runs last year a modest 8.5l fourth of 14 at Dundalk (1m); weakened in the closing stages on seasonal return at Navan (1m2f, heavy); a drying track could help his cause, as could the first-time tongue tie; chance.

Glimmers of ability in 1m maidens at Navan (heavy) and Gowran (soft); hinted as though he was ready for a step up in trip last time and gets that here; could also improve for better ground (brother Annerville won on good for this yard).

Long odds and no impact in maidens at the Curragh and Leopardstown; may need a bit more time.

Retains her existing mark after a Roscommon maiden win gained on her tenth outing; 7lb out of the handicap, that disadvantage somewhat offset by the rider's useful claim; vulnerable on overall form.

Went close in a 1m maiden at Navan on the third of five starts last season; ended the campaign with less encouraging runs at Dundalk and Naas; a revelation on reappearance at Ballinrobe, winning very easily from an 85-rated favourite; a one-pound rise to 76 appears surprisingly lenient; if accurate, she will need to take a big forward step to hold her own in this company.

Well bred and cost 550,000gns as a yearling, so they didn't expect to end up here; ran fine over C&D sole start at two; wasn't seen until 4-1 at Ballinrobe earlier this month, beaten a long way over 9.5f; maybe he didn't stay, but that might be too generous an assessment.

Related to winners and plenty to like about his staying on third on debut at Gowran (9.5f, soft) when a nose behind the runner up Mano Chicago (Wild Sapphire 2.5l behind); unexposed; enters calculations.

Dual-purpose; off since last May; placed in four British Flat maidens for former yard at 9.5f-1m2f on good to firm ground; likely best watched after absence.

Placed on belated debut early last year in Newcastle AW maiden (blinkered), reappearing early this month when never sighted in Ballinrobe maiden; more likely one for handicaps.

Poor form over various trips, easily overlooked.

Twice finished third at two and missed all of last year; first two runs this term were good, including fifth in decent handicap at Cork; in first-time blinkers, was no match for a patiently-ridden winner after trying to make all at Ballinrobe; first go on Polytrack and related to AW winners.

Fine effort on second start last year when a neck second at Navan (1m2f, good); tailed off on seasonal return at the Curragh (1m, heavy); cheekpieces now go on; could rebound once there isn't too much rain.

0-10 and yet to run to a higher RPR than 28; impossible to make a case for.

Small glimmers of promise in maidens at 7f-1m; well beaten in first handicap when last seen at Dundalk (1m) in January; down 3lb and in class now; market check advised.

Never threatened in a trio of maidens at 6f-8f on soft and on the AW; potential improver on handicap bow; market can guide.

Got a good ride from the front on speed-favouring track when holding on to beat Musashi at Killarney; 3lb worse off and wouldn't fancy her to confirm the form over this extra furlong.

Modest form in first two handicaps at Dundalk at the backend of last year; dropped 6lb and returns from a 156-day absence; best watched unless market speaks.

Modest form in maidens; similar story on seasonal return and handicap debut at Navan (1m2f, heavy) in March; cheekpieces worn that day discarded; could improve on this better ground and yard in form.

Missed a good chance to win one when hung left late on at Gowran, finishing third over 1m; 3-1 fav when turned out three days later at Ballinrobe, ran a stinker; cheekpieces tried then left off; some stamina on dam's side of pedigree so might stay, but prefer to look elsewhere, as does Foley.

Little to write home about in three maiden runs at 7f-1m on the AW and on soft ground latest; from a talented family so could do better now switched to handicaps; check the market.

Long odds and no sign of winning potential in a trio of maidens at 6f-1m on varying ground; hard to make a case for on handicap debut.

No show in maidens and has finished well down the field in both handicap starts; steps up in trip after 10l defeat over 1m at Leopardstown latest; hard to fancy.

Good fourth on handicap debut at Gowran last October (7f, heavy); kept on from the back for a 5.75l third of 13 at Bellewstown (1m, soft) latest; previously ran well in 1m Gowran claimer; worth another go at this sort of trip on the evidence of that effort; rain a plus.

Best effort yet in third handicap run at Dundalk (1m) on latest in March, beaten 2l when fifth of 8; didn't look like she was crying out for this longer trip, however.

Huge odds and soundly beaten in maidens at 7f-1m on the AW and on yielding ground; can only be watched on handicap and stable debut.

Won over 7f at Gowran last month, held since; kept on over 9.5f at Ballinrobe when tried in blinkers; might stay but others preferred.

Won C&D maiden on this card last year on debut for the Cromwell yard and later added Listowel win on heavy; goes well fresh so has to be respected given his record here.

Won a Galway maiden on second start for Joseph O'Brien in October 2024 but no joy since, although second to Flying Fortress in Listowel handicap; three runs over hurdles since joining Ado McGuinness before tame Curragh effort last time; new headgear combination tried and handicapper giving her a chance.

Three wins in Britain in 2023 at up to 1m; regressive in the last two seasons; produced best run for some time at Dundalk in March when good second over 1m; not beaten far in outings at Leopardstown and Ballinrobe since then.

Unplaced in seven hurdle runs to date, (four of them handicaps); running moderately on Flat at the moment.

Dual-purpose; won a maiden hurdle at Cork in December (2m1f, sft-hvy); has run well on this sort of ground on the level; failed to beat a rival in 9.5f handicap here on latest; not an obvious candidate for this discipline on breeding.

Pick of six runs for Dermot Weld when runner-up in 1m1f Leopardstown handicap (good) last August; steps up in trip after two moderate runs for this stable; plenty to prove.

Maiden with a little enough mileage on the clock; gave an improved display when second at Ballinrobe last time; others have stronger overall claims.

Third reserve; in the form of his life last June, notching three wins on the trot at 1m/1m1f following addition of visor/blinkers; yet to hit form in four attempts this term though.

Well-bred Godolphin cast-off makes a quick reappearance after landing a touch over a mile at Gowran on Tuesday in ridiculously easy fashion, value for much more than the 3.5l winning margin; due for a hefty rise so connections' quick to bring him out again under mandatory 7lb penalty and will take all the beating if staying this longer trip (bred to).

Off the mark at Ballinrobe four days ago when he dug deep for a narrow success at the expense of the odds-on Majestic King who beat Can I Kiss You the run before; doesn't look obviously well in under a penalty and stall 14 isn't ideal, but must have a chance.

Flat winner (7f) on good ground at Limerick last summer; has been error-prone over hurdles; best effort when winning at Galway last October; fit from a recent Flat outing at this venue; not suited by the race conditions.

Down the field on turf last time but had been running well here and should still be on a competitive mark; on the shortlist.

Nice pedigree and beaten less than a length on handicap debut at Killarney in October (1m3f, soft); has kept on over shorter trips last twice and now steps back up in trip.

Yet to place in 14 starts but one of her better runs was over C&D last year and bit of encouragement last time at Ballinrobe, never a factor after being baulked from stalls but some late headway over 9.5f.

Maiden has yet to trouble the judge; blinkers tried and handicapper relenting but remains hard to fancy.

Twice placed for Paul Nolan in good-ground handicaps last June; best run so far for current yard when fourth over 9.5f at Ballinrobe, with four of these behind; unproven over this far, though.

Eight-race maiden who has shown nothing of note in handicaps and stamina isn't guaranteed.

No win since scoring off 2lb higher at Naas (1m, yielding) over two years ago; promising seasonal comeback second at Navan in March (1m2f) but 1m4f looked beyond her at Limerick last month; back to probably her optimum trip.

Ran okay over 1m2f on handicap debut at Navan last October but twice well held over this trip after; always behind at Ballinrobe last time; cheekpieces swapped for visor.

Five wins, four of them on AW including 50-1 success under this rider in December; shaped like the run was needed at Ballinrobe last time; best form is over 10.5f, this trip stretches him

High-class NH performer, most recently good fourth in BetMGM Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham; two previous Flat runs were on the Dundalk AW, notably previous month when 2l third of 10 over 1m4f; ground no problem, not sure the tight track will suit.

Lightly raced 4yo ran twice on the AW before improvement in Bellewstown maiden last month over just shy of this trip, not quite getting home on soft ground under a positive ride; considered but stamina doubts.

Ulysses colt didn't run at two but three runs already this term, showing plenty of improvement to land Ballinrobe maiden over this trip eight days ago, making virtually all to win handsomely (good-to-yielding); yard took same route with last year's winner Carmers en route to an Ascot success so demands plenty of respect.

50-1, last of 15 on last month's Bellewstown debut with a couple of these ahead; dismiss.

Three-time winning hurdler on decent ground; absent since faller at Fairyhouse in November and probably best watched on Flat debut.

E80,000 Y; fourth foal; half-brother to French 6f/6.5f 2yo winner Voodoo Magic (RPR 95); dam 5f AW 2yo winner (85); speedily-bred 3yo didn't count on last month's debut when midfield in much better-class maiden; entitled to improve for that.

Finished last in maidens at the Curragh and Dundalk; likely to need more time.

Appeared not to stay 1m5f at Ballinrobe last time; this may be closer to his best trip and he is relatively unexposed.

Five-time winning hurdler hasn't been at his best for some time, but his two runs at this track last autumn were some of his better efforts.

Was hit hard by the handicapper for easily winning a restricted 9.5f maiden at Gowran on heavy in September; good run when fourth over 1m2f at Leopardstown last month and seemed to stay well enough when third over 1m5f at Ballinrobe, getting going a bit late; longer straight here will suit and any rain a plus.

Won consecutive 1m4f handicaps in 2024 at Roscommon and Galway (off 70); came back from an absence when winning over hurdles at Bellewstown last summer and ran well in novice events both starts afterwards; returns from a further 9 months' absence but goes well fresh.

Some good efforts in soft-ground handicaps, including seasonal-debut second at Bellewstown (1m3f) when clear of third Obscenity; not at his best at Ballinrobe last time when behind a couple of these.

Three-time winner at 1m2f on soft or heavy, latest over two years ago; fair form this season but needs to find extra; ran in the 7.50 at Roscommon on Monday.

Always at the back when 25-1 at Ballinrobe in his first handicap; his chance is not obvious, but the stable had a massive-priced double at Naas on Sunday.

Only Flat win came over this trip at Galway in 2023 but went close at Navan last month, every chance in a three-way photo when beaten a neck (1m5f, good-to-yielding); 3lb higher but has his chance again.

Three-time AW winner at 1m4f and finally made the breakthrough on turf in 1m2f Navan handicap in late March, positively-ridden by today's rider; tongue-tie worn then now discarded on first start for new yard; 7lb higher.

Won a Clonmel handicap over just short of 1m2f last autumn and encouraging comeback run at Gowran last month over slightly shorter when second; 4lb rise for that but remains of interest.

Four-time winner over shorter trips and only just denied over 2m at Thurles on final start last season; recent hurdle run should have put him straight and not one to rule out.

Won 1m2f Goodwood novice last year but made no impact afterwards in handicaps; weak form over longer distances since joining this stable.

Lightly-raced 4yo was 0-5 in maidens last year but showed a fair level of ability each time; shaped as though he would improve over seasonal return/handicap debut at Ballinrobe (1m5f, good to yielding) when fading into seventh.

Five turf wins include a 1m4f course success during a solid 2025 campaign; below his best in two outings this term; mid-field behind today's Perry Mason on the first occasion.

Notched a three-timer last summer with wins at Bellewstown (1m7f, good), Ballinrobe (1m5f, good to yielding) and Galway (1m6f, yielding); made a moderate return at Ballinrobe last time and regular rider Patrick McGettigan is not aboard.