19:15 Ballinrobe

Monday 27 May 2019

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Bank Of Ireland Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 19:16 | Winning time: 4m 5.4s

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Selected odds by:

Derby De Thaix^b¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 99| D

8/1

16-race aiden including being without success in 14 starts over hurdles. Well held in three runs since last month and others look open to more improvement in this contest.

Form: 77058-0

Alfred Wegener³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 96| D

7/1

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking over hurdles when landing a Limerick handicap on good ground over this trip off a 7lb lower mark. Held in a couple of subsequent starts, before an encouraging return to action last month. Can't be ruled out.

Form: P49/100-

English Pale^b⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D E Mullins| T: S J Mahon| OR: 95| C

16/1

Modest 14-race maiden over hurdles who has been finishing down the field in a number of poor efforts since March. Hasn't shown enough to be of interest here.

Form: 9000-90

Ostaiocht^b,t⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Downey| OR: 93

14/1

Five race maiden hurdler, minor promise on third hurdles start at Thurles in November, before a number of poor starts for new connections, including a 29L defeat at Fairyhouse last month. Still looking no nearer to breakthrough success.

Form: U0500-

Perfect In Pink¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: P D Kennedy| T: M M McNiff| OR: 93

25/1

Has been seen to generally struggle in a number of hurdle starts since making her debut 18 months ago. Didn't fire on return to action at Downpatrick recently and others preferred.

Form: 00/8F-7

Havelock^p1,t1¹¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: P Merrigan| T: S J Mahon| OR: 92

40/1

Struggling 57-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer Peter Fahey, well beaten in four starts over hurdles. First time cheekpieces unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here on stable debut.

Form: 90/07-

Zoffalee²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: A McNamara| OR: 99

7/4

Four race maiden hurdler but appears to be getting the hang of things if his runs at Wexford and here over 2m1½f are anything to go by. Can be a leading player with positive jockey booking.

Form: 8802-4

She'stherightone¹⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R A Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: D Cullen| OR: 89

9/1

The promise of a couple of initial bumper starts has appeared to diminish when disappointing connections in a series of dismal efforts over hurdles since October. Requires a chunk of improvement to play a role.

Form: 823798-

Cloughmoylepatriot⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 88

20/1

Dismal form in a number of maiden hurdle starts since the turn of the year when sent off at odds of at least 66/1 and running accordingly in the process. Overall record casts doubt on his ability to get competitive here.

Form: 0000-

Geoffrey's Girl^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: K J Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 87

16/1

Five race maiden hurdler who has yet to hit the frame. Sent off at odds of 100/1 on four of her last five starts and possibly best watched for now.

Form: 0000-0

Lesssaidthebetter⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 86

33/1

List of gloomy performances is now at seven following a 39L defeat in a Cork handicap hurdle in March. Tough to see where improvement is coming from.

Form: 0870F9-

Flattothemat^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 85

11/1

Will have disappointed connections in a series of desolate efforts over hurdles since September including when beaten over 14L here over 2m earlier this month. Difficult to see any light at the end of the tunnel just yet.

Form: 8/680-58

Crocosmia^t⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: J S McGarvey| T: Miss E McCutcheon| OR: 82

11/1

Not seen for 22 months when returning to finish third of 13 beaten a little over 5L in a Sligo handicap hurdle last month before pulling up when quickly turned out again at Wexford on Wednesday. Best watched unless market vibes suggest otherwise.

Form: P000/3P

Dragon Queen^b1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: C D Maxwell| T: M Flannery| OR: 82

33/1

Maiden hurdler who is yet to hit the frame in eight starts. First time blinkers unlikely to bring about the required amount of progression needed to land a blow here.

Form: 0006-90

Shes Gold³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: J M Moore| T: T Mullins| OR: 88

25/1

Well held and no impression in five maiden hurdle starts before any thoughts of an upturn in fortunes on handicap debut were quickly diminished following a drab display at Wexford last month. Other look more convincing.

Form: 000070-

Non-Runners

Swiss Cottage¹¹

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: K Thornton J: Donagh Meyler

Divin Desir¹⁸

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: I Madden J: Reserve 1

Streak⁴⁵

Weight: 10-7| Age: 9

T: T Mullins J: Reserve 2

Miss Mcilroy¹¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 7

T: G T Lynch J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Zoffalee (7/4), Divin Desir (7/2), Alfred Wegener (7/1), Derby De Thaix (8/1), She'stherightone (9/1), Flattothemat (11/1), Crocosmia (11/1), Swiss Cottage (12/1), Ostaiocht (14/1), Geoffrey's Girl (16/1), English Pale (16/1), Cloughmoylepatriot (20/1), Perfect In Pink (25/1), Shes Gold (25/1), Lesssaidthebetter (33/1), Streak (33/1), Miss Mcilroy (33/1), Dragon Queen (33/1), Havelock (40/1)

The Zoffany gelding ZOFFALEE can get off the mark for connections at the fifth time of asking over hurdles with the booking of Robbie Power an additional positive for the four-year-old. Running well in defeat recently the gelding can get the better of Alfred Wegener who can emerge as the biggest danger. The Denis Hogan-trained Derby De Thaix can battle for the minor honours with Ostaiocht and, if getting a run, Divin Desir.