THE mares’ handicap hurdle is the feature race at Ballinrobe tonight and this €30k contest looks a wide-open affair with Tom Gibney’s The Nutcracker heading the weights.
She put up a career-best performance last time out at Killarney when running second to 137-rated performer Missy Tata. She was beaten four-and-three-quarter lengths by the younger mare but the handicapper still had to have his pound of flesh and raised her 6lb to tonight’s mark of 123. Consequently she looks up against it here.
In particular the weight concessions she has to make to the recent Sligo winner Isabella Liberty and the length runner-up Josephine Marcus. With a 4lb swing in the weights, Josephine Marcus might just find things tiled in her favour.
Tsundoku won well at Downpatrick, form that was enhanced by runner-up Twilight Shadow going in subsequently.
Barry Geraghty has got himself onto a live one in Kilbeggan maiden winner Sweet Cherry and another Kilbeggan scorer Flaviana enjoys a 12lb turnaround with The Nutcracker from Punchestown after finishing 19 lengths in arrears of the Gibney runner there. Add in the likes of Dragon Fei and Wate And See and it’s a pretty complex little puzzle.
Sweet Cherry might beat Josephine Marcus and Tsunduko.
It could be a good day for Isabbella Liberty’s trainer Gordon Elliott who will be expecting a big run from Tocororo in the six-runner four-year-old hurdle following her fourth behind Apple’s Jade in a Grade One novice at Punchestown.
A Fairyhouse winner in January, she has flown high since and this represents a major drop in class for her. Stablemate, Downpatrick winner Buyer Beware would have to improve on his Perth third behind Townshend but looks a candidate for second place.
His stable companion Urtheoneiwant has already gone close at Tramore and Clonmel this month and is likely to be a warm order in the 80-109 handicap hurdle as he returns to the scene of his sole victory under NH rules.
Lean Times also has course-winning form and hinted at a return to his best when making the frame at Sligo seven days ago.
The Elliott-trained Bellas Rock makes his debut over flights in the opening maiden hurdle, but Troublesombrothers would pose a big threat based on his second-placed effort behind Master Of Verse at Fairyhouse prior to running badly here in early May behind Livelovelaugh.
Useful hunter chaser Hurricane Ben has Geraghty on board when he makes his debut in handicap company having blown his rivals away in hunter chase company at Tramore and Tipperary. His mark of 118 looks severe enough though. But this really doesn’t look much of a race. Rebel Cry is13lb higher for handicap wins at Roscommon and Thurles but is still at the right end of the handicap with Hurricane Ben asked to concede 17lb to him.
The well-bred Glens Harmony made a big impression when third on her debut behind Augusta Kate in a €40k Listed bumper at the Punchestown Festival and she can get off the mark in the mares’ bumper here.
