Racecards
17:55 Ballinrobe (IRE)
Hollymount Nursing Home Handicap Hurdle (80-109)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 50y
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €12,500 added
- Winner: €7,688
- 2nd: €2,375
- 3rd: €1,125
- 4th: €500
- Form 211360
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer W J Austin
- Jockey P E Corbett
tracked leaders, moderate 4th 3 out, soon ridden, no impression after 2 out
- Form 9834-18
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Keith Donoghue
towards rear, progress from 3 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, moderate 4th entering straight, left moderate 3rd at last
- Form 170026
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer S Fahey
- Jockey S E Butler
mid-division, pushed along 4 out and soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
- Form F0/P-462
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer R Sweeney
- Jockey Phillip Enright
in rear, progress into moderate 6th 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, never a factor
- Form 459
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer I Madden
- Jockey Robbie Colgan
led, headed 4th, ridden and mistake next, weakened, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 161-89P
- Age 11
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer D Howard
- Jockey Donagh Meyler
mid-division on outer, good headway to lead at 4th, clear 3 out, reduced advantage next, soon ridden, headed approaching last, disputing 2nd when left 2nd at last, rallied run-in to strongly press winner to line
- Form 770
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey R M Power
towards rear, progress on outer into 7th travelling well 2 out, pushed along in close 3rd 2f out, 1/2L 2nd and every chance travelling well on outer when fell at last
- Form 2P5/0P0
- Age 11
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer M Flannery
- Jockey M J Ferris
tracked leader in 2nd, moderate 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from 2 out
- Form 00-1P93
- Age 9
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer J P Ryan
- Jockey Mr T N Brett
tracked leaders on outer, moderate 3rd 3 out, closer 3rd next, ridden in 2nd 2f out, led narrowly approaching last, strongly pressed at last, kept on under pressure run-in, all out near line
- Form 449/7-06
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Edward P Mitchell
- Jockey S J Gray
rear of mid-division, moderate 7th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, kept on one paced from 2f out
- Form P-08436
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 83
rear of mid-division, progress into moderate 5th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
- Form 06-9006
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer M Cullinane
- Jockey Sean Flanagan
rear of mid-division, pushed along from 4 out, no impression
Closh (IRE)
176- Form 038770
- Age 7
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer V T O'Brien
- Jockey Jack Kennedy
mid-division, moderate 8th 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up after 2 out
In depth
Verdict
LONG JOURNEY HOME, a winner at Dundalk in February, couldn't quite match Mississippi River on heavy going at Cork last month but a similar level of form should see him gain his first success over hurdles. Our Boy Ben won three races in the UK for Malcolm Jefferson and has joined Gordon Elliott but hasn't run since June. Babanango has shown nothing in three maiden runs but is still likely to attract support given connections while Blazing West is only 3lb higher than her victory at Fairyhouse in December. Black Ice doesn't win often but will love the conditions and Shane Butler's claim can see him reach the frame.
Formwatch
Blazing West (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, 3rd early, slight mistakes 3rd and 4th, 4th approaching straight, no impression 2 out, soon no extra, 10th of 11, 34 1/4l behind Killaro Boy (11-1) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Apr.
Our Boy Ben 2-1fav (11-11) In touch, weakened 3 out, 8th of 10, 23 1/4l behind Gin Cobbler (11-9) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Black Ice (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, 7th 3 out, soon ridden, 6th next, no impression, 6th of 11, 5 1/4l behind The Way It Works (11-2) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp gd in Mar.
Long Journey Home (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Held up in rear and ran freely early, progress into 6th 2 out, challenged last, ridden and every chance run-in, kept on into 2nd closing stages, no impression on winner close home, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Mississippi River (11-0) at Cork 2m hcp hvy in Mar.
Just Soldier (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Soon raced in remote 7th, moderate 6th before straight, soon no impression, 9th of 14, 35 1/2l behind Champagne Harmony (11-12) at Thurles 2m mdn Yielding in Mar.
Duty Dance (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Led, soon clear, reduced advantage halfway, 2 lengths clear at 7th, headed after 4 out, driven and weakend after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Limerick 2m 5f hcp hvy in Mar.
Babanango (FR) 66-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 10th early, no impression and eased straight, slight mistake 2 out, 14th of 21, dist behind Three Wise Men (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Yielding in Mar.
Lean Times (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Towards rear for most, ridden and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 10th of 18, 25 3/4l behind All The Chimneys (10-7) at Navan 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Apr.
Mic Milano (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along entering straight and no impression in 3rd 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 7 1/2l behind Edvardo (11-8) at Limerick 2m 5f hcp hvy in Mar.
Luddenmore (IRE) 20-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and no extra in 9th 3 out, kept on one pace from next, 6th of 10, dist behind Page Turner (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Think Of Me (IRE) 11-2fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, some headway before 2 out, in 6th before last, soon weakened, 6th of 14, 29 1/4l behind Oscar Jane (10-3) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Tornado Watch (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Mid-division, soon raced in 7th, not fluent 6th, no impression approaching 3 out, 6th of 14, dist behind Be The Hero (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Apr.
Closh (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra before 3 out, 15th of 17, 22 3/4l behind Luimneach Abu (11-7) at Thurles 2m hcp gf in Oct.