Connacht Tribune Flat Race

Off time: 17:55 | Winning time: 4m 19.8s

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Selected odds by:

Cask Mate^t1¹⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Ms N Carberry| T: N Meade

9/4

€18,000 three-year-old who returns to action for the first time since April. Yet to make an impact in a couple of Punchestown bumpers, but better possible after a summer break. Wears a tongue tie for the first time.

Form: 80-

Elusive Exclusive¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J J Codd| T: P J F Murphy

9/4

Elusive Pimpernel gelding who has demonstrated an ability to handle testing conditions finishing on the premises in both starts to date; beaten just under 5L when third to Kirwans Lane at Roscommon earlier in the month.

Form: 4-3

Inner Peace^t1

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr E P O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: Michael Barry

16/1

Unraced fifth foal by Papal Bull out of Nakiska (a 91 rated 1m1f-1m2f winner). Decent enough pedigree with stamina present. Wears a tongue tie.

Form:

Keep Rocking

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr P A King⁽⁵⁾| T: James King

16/1

Unraced Westerner gelding (€4,500 three-year-old). Sixth foal out of a 2m4f placed hurdler (Piyala) who was a half-sister to the useful stayer A New Story.

Form:

Rock River Valley^h1

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr S Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: T E Hyde

13/2

Unraced Cape Blanco gelding out of Good Time Sally (a US turf 6f-1m winner). Half-brother to Lungarno Palace (1m+ to 1m4f winner). Stamina a concern and hooded for debut.

Form:

Thereisnodoubt³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J C Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: A Leahy

9/4

Has experience in Point-to-Points and over hurdles (moderate), but finished a game 1¾L runner up to Chess Grand Master on his bumper debut at Sligo in August (2m2f soft to heavy). Similar underfoot conditions expected.

Form: F-062

Waky Flyer²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: S J Mahon

33/1

€1,500 yearling who showed up early but weakened quickly mid-race on debut at Bellewstown in August finishing a tailed off ninth of 12 to Youghal By The Sea (2m+ good).

Form: 9

Forecasts

Cask Mate (9/4), Elusive Exclusive (9/4), Thereisnodoubt (9/4), Rock River Valley (13/2), Keep Rocking (16/1), Inner Peace (16/1), Waky Flyer (33/1)

With ground conditions likely to be very testing and well poached by the time this race takes place, a proven ability to handle deep conditions will be a necessity. Elusive Exclusive has all of the attributes to be involved based upon his decent showing when third to Kirwans Lane at Roscommon earlier this month, but the form of THEREISNODOUBT from Sligo (runner up to Chess Grand Master) looks stronger. Despite this contest coming over a 2f shorter trip, the Augustine Leahy trained gelding can be expected to make it second time lucky in bumpers.