WITH further heavy showers forecast for the west of the country, it’s going to be tough going at Ballinrobe on Monday.
Only six go to post for the feature event, the EPS Handicap Hurdle, and the sole mare, Jesmond Lodge, looks the one to be on having proven herself in a bog at Sligo last week. She produced a fine front-running performance to make the breakthrough last Thursday after some solid runs in novice company previously this summer.
The change in tactics seemed to suit her well and it’s also something that works well around here because of the tight bend turning for home. She was handed an initial mark of 102 and even with a 6lb penalty for that win, doesn’t looks badly treated in this two-mile-one-furlong event.
The admirable Punch Bag aims to complete a hat-trick, and also notch his fourth win of the year, in the €26,000 contest but the ground has to be a big worry. All his wins have come on a decent surface and he was taken out of a race at Punchestown in May when it was soft.
Gordon Elliott saddles half of the six-runner field but each of his trio have something to prove as they are coming here off the back of moderate runs. Skilled, with Paul Carberry on board, may prove the pick. He faded tamely enough on the level at Galway last time but won twice over timber in the spring and Elliott is a master in these type of summer handicap events.
The Elliott/Carberry combination look to have a big shout with Georges Conn in the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle on the card. He scored here last month under a masterful ride from Carberry, when he judged the pace to perfection before coming through to pick up the pieces in great style.
The way he was nursed along then suggests he was expected to improve from his return from a long absence and there looks plenty more to come.
The opening mares’ contest looks the most appealing of the three maiden hurdles and Willie Mullins saddles Kilbeggan bumper winner Ciandarragh. It’s always dangerous to oppose one of Mullins’s but she may be worth taking on. Most of her family want nicer ground and she is only a pony.
Brogine may be the one to side with. She had some decent bumper form before getting off the mark around here last month in very testing conditions. The geldings’ maiden over the same two-mile-one-furlong trip looks a particularly poor contest and Red Jacket should be good enough.
He proved a bit of a rogue by running out at Roscommon last time but certainly has more than enough ability to land a race of such a low standard.
NEVILLE RING
5.40pm: Brogine (Dbl)
6.10pm: Red Jacket
6.40pm: Mossy Island
7.10pm: Jesmond Lodge (Nap)
7.40pm: Nimdani
8.10pm: Georges Conn
8.40pm: Where’s Me
NEXT BEST
5.40pm: Ciandarragh
6.10pm: Shek O Lad
6.40pm: Balofilo
7.10pm: Punch Bag
7.40pm: Winter Breeze
8.10pm: Crystal Palace
8.40pm: All The Answers
