19:00 Ballinrobe

Tuesday 30 May 2017

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

McHale Coranna Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:01 | Winning time: 4m 44.3s

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Selected odds by:

Cliff House²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B T O'Connell| T: J J Walsh| OR: 137

20/1

No win over hurdles since handicap debut in March 2015 and looks high enough in the weights, especially in a competitive affair such as this one.

Form: 220308-

Plinth^b,t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 135| C| D

8/1

Has been in fair form recently, with his only poor run coming in a Grade 2 where he was in all likelihood outclassed my some talented sorts. On the same mark as when winning by a nose at Killarney last time and the sounder surface here shouldn't be an issue.

Form: 08145-1

Swamp Fox^b¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: B Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Murphy| OR: 134| C

8/1

Won impressively over hurdles last September but has seemed to struggle with a higher mark since, and has also failed to show anything overly exciting on his various starts on the Flat. Best watched until given more help by the handicapper.

Form: 13030-4

Sure Reef³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 133| D

5/1

Has lost his way slightly over his past few starts but has had genuine excuses on each occasion and should have things back his way again for some top connections.

Form: 1/35406-

Mine Now³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: R Deegan⁽⁷⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 128| D

14/1

Outclassed in a better race than this last time following on from two good performances including a victory at Gowran (2m4f, heavy). Has won on this surface in the past but would probably prefer some rain.

Form: 270210-

Ah Littleluck^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| OR: 127| D

12/1

Not as impressive through the winter but really came into his own at this time last year and now goes off a slightly reduced mark which can only be a help to this chances. Place claims at least.

Form: 9P0F0-5

Sanibel Island³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 127| C

10/1

Comes into this with some of the best form on offer, having acquitted himself well in just about all of his starts last season for his top trainer. This should be an easier proposition than last time when he was beaten only 3L, and he goes off the same mark.

Form: 644165-

Conduct Yourself³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Brian Hayes| T: J E Kiely| OR: 126| D

10/1

Won at Cork in April but has subsequently gone up 7lb in the weights and looks vulnerable on the basis of his new mark, especially following a 30L defeat at Punchestown last time.

Form: 372P10-

Lachares^p1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Rachael Blackmore⁽³⁾| T: Miss Ellmarie Holden| OR: 128

7/2

Beaten by 7½L by Plinth last time and is actually 1lb worse off in the weights now but is very consistent, having finished in the first three in all of his eight most recent starts, so he should hit the frame once again.

Form: 32113-3

Akito^p1³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Paul Townend| T: J R Barry| OR: 118

12/1

Sole win over hurdles came in October 2015 and has looked more at home over fences in his recent career. Cheek pieces reached for now which are an interesting addition, but he is still likely set for a minor role.

Form: 3P0618-

Little Haarth¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: B R Dalton| T: D McDonogh| OR: 114| C| D

10/1

Won at this course in a handicap last July but no victory since. Back down below that winning mark now but just doesn't seem to be in the same form, though he was slightly better at Clonmel last time (2m3½f, good).

Form: 76546-5

Polar Present^p1⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Donagh Meyler⁽³⁾| T: S Fahey| OR: 113| D

12/1

Won a maiden hurdle last summer and has run some fair races since but hasn't looked of the standard to win a race such as this, even going off a featherweight in conditions that should suit.

Form: 1F343F-

Non-Runners

Jimmy Two Times⁸⁶

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: B R Hamilton J: A E Lynch

Waaheb³⁰⁵

Weight: 10-13| Age: 10

T: C Roche J: L P Dempsey

Highway Royal³⁴

Weight: 10-6| Age: 5

T: S J Mahon J: D J Mullins

Timiyan²¹²

Weight: 10-6| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: J S McGarvey

Forecasts

Lachares (7/2), Sure Reef (5/1), Swamp Fox (8/1), Plinth (8/1), Sanibel Island (10/1), Little Haarth (10/1), Conduct Yourself (10/1), Polar Present (12/1), Ah Littleluck (12/1), Akito (12/1), Waaheb (12/1), Mine Now (14/1), Jimmy Two Times (14/1), Timiyan (14/1), Highway Royal (16/1), Cliff House (20/1)

As usual for handicap hurdles of this type this looks to be a competitive affair, where PLINTH holds the most convincing claims. He is on the same mark as when winning narrowly at Killarney last time and with his only poor run recently coming in a Grade 2 where he was simply outclassed, races like this seem a much more appropriate target. The consistent Lachares was behind him at Killarney but always runs his race and should go close again, while Ah Littleluck should be in the battle for a place at least.